Introduction
North America's rivers have been highways of exploration, boundaries between nations, and lifeblood for agriculture. The Mississippi-Missouri system dominates the continent, draining 40% of the lower 48 states.
From the frozen Yukon in Alaska to the Rio Grande on the Mexican border, these rivers showcase the continent's incredible geographic diversity.
1. Missouri River
- Length: 3,768 km (2,341 mi)
- Country: United States
- Mouth: Mississippi River
The Missouri is the longest river in North America when measured independently. It flows from the Rocky Mountains in Montana to its confluence with the Mississippi near St. Louis.
Lewis and Clark followed the Missouri on their famous 1804-1806 expedition to the Pacific.
2. Mississippi River
- Length: 3,544 km (2,202 mi)
- Country: United States
- Mouth: Gulf of Mexico
The Mississippi is the second longest river in North America and the most commercially important. It drains all or parts of 31 states.
Mark Twain immortalized the Mississippi in his novels, calling it "the great Mississippi, the majestic, the magnificent Mississippi."
3. Yukon River
- Length: 3,190 km (1,982 mi)
- Countries: Canada, United States
- Mouth: Bering Sea
The Yukon flows through some of the most remote wilderness in North America. During the Klondike Gold Rush of 1896-1899, it was the main route to the gold fields.
The river freezes solid in winter and is navigable for only about five months per year.
4. Rio Grande
- Length: 3,051 km (1,896 mi)
- Countries: United States, Mexico
- Mouth: Gulf of Mexico
The Rio Grande forms 2,000 km of the border between the United States and Mexico. In Mexico, it is known as the Río Bravo del Norte.
The river is severely overused for irrigation and often runs dry before reaching the Gulf of Mexico.
5. Colorado River
- Length: 2,330 km (1,450 mi)
- Countries: United States, Mexico
- Notable: Carved the Grand Canyon
The Colorado carved one of the world's most iconic landscapes: the Grand Canyon. The river drops 1,500 meters over its course from the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of California.
Due to extensive damming, the river rarely reaches the sea anymore.
6. Arkansas River
- Length: 2,322 km (1,443 mi)
- Country: United States
- Tributary of: Mississippi River
The Arkansas flows from the Rocky Mountains in Colorado across the Great Plains to the Mississippi. It is the sixth longest tributary in the world.
Royal Gorge in Colorado, where the Arkansas flows through a 366-meter deep canyon, is one of the most scenic sections.
7. Columbia River
- Length: 2,000 km (1,243 mi)
- Countries: Canada, United States
- Mouth: Pacific Ocean
The Columbia is the largest river flowing into the Pacific from North America. It produces more hydroelectric power than any other river on the continent.
The Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia is one of the largest concrete structures in the world.
8. Red River (South)
- Length: 1,811 km (1,125 mi)
- Country: United States
- Tributary of: Mississippi/Atchafalaya
The Red River forms much of the border between Texas and Oklahoma. Its distinctive red color comes from red clay soil in its drainage area.
The river was a major boundary in American history, separating US territory from Spanish and later Mexican lands.
9. Saskatchewan River
- Length: 1,939 km (1,205 mi)
- Country: Canada
- Mouth: Lake Winnipeg
The Saskatchewan drains much of the Canadian Prairies. Its name comes from the Cree word "kisiskatchewan," meaning "swift-flowing river."
The river was the main highway for the fur trade in western Canada.
10. Fraser River
- Length: 1,375 km (854 mi)
- Country: Canada
- Mouth: Pacific Ocean at Vancouver
The Fraser is the longest river in British Columbia and the greatest salmon-producing river in the world. Millions of salmon return to spawn each year.
The Fraser Canyon was a major obstacle during the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Key Facts
- The Mississippi-Missouri system drains about 40% of the contiguous United States.
- The Colorado River supplies water to over 40 million people in seven US states and Mexico.
- The Yukon River flows through some of the coldest inhabited places in North America.
- North American rivers have been extensively dammed, with over 75,000 dams in the United States alone.
- The Rio Grande is so overused that it no longer reliably reaches the Gulf of Mexico.
Fun Facts
- The Mississippi River delta grows and shrinks. It's currently losing about 75 km² of land per year due to subsidence and erosion.
- During the 1811-1812 New Madrid earthquakes, the Mississippi briefly flowed backward.
- The Colorado River carved the Grand Canyon over approximately 5-6 million years.
- The Fraser River's salmon runs are so massive that you can literally walk across the river on the backs of fish during peak season.
Final Thoughts
North America's rivers have shaped the continent's history, from indigenous trade routes to European exploration to modern agriculture and industry. Their management remains one of the continent's greatest environmental challenges.