List of rivers by discharge

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of rivers by their average discharge, that is, their water flow rate. Here, only those rivers are shown whose discharge is more than 2,000 cubic metres per second (530,000 US gal/s; 440,000 impgal/s; 2,000,000 L/s). For context, the volume of an Olympic-size swimming pool is 2,500 cubic metres. So the flow rate at the mouth of the Amazon is sufficient to fill more than 83 such pools each second.

No Continent River Length (km) Length (miles) Drainage area (km2) Average discharge (m3/s) Outflow Reference
1 South America Amazon 6,400 3,976 7,050,000 209,000 Atlantic Ocean [1][2]
2 Africa Congo 4,370 2,716 4,014,500 41,200 Atlantic Ocean [1]
3 Asia Ganges/Brahmaputra/Meghna 2,704 1,680 1,731,334 38,129 Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean [3][4]
4 South America Orinoco 2,250 1,398 880,000 37,000 Atlantic Ocean [1][5]
5 South America Guainía/Negro 2,230 1,390 691,000 35,943 Amazon River [6]
6 South America Madeira 1,450 900 1,376,000 31,200 Amazon River [7][8]
7 Asia Yangtze 6,300 3,915 1,808,500 30,166 East China Sea, Pacific Ocean [1][2]
8 North America Mississippi/Atchafalaya 6,003 3,730 3,202,230 22,978 Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean [9] [10]
9 South America Río de la Plata 290 180 3,100,000 22,000 Atlantic Ocean [1]
10 Asia Brahmaputra 3,400 2,110 712,035 19,800 Padma River [11]
11 South America Caquetá/Japurá 2,036 1,265 267,730 18,620 Amazon River [12]
12 Asia Yenisei 3,438 2,136 2,580,000 18,050 Kara Sea, Arctic Ocean [13]
13 South America Paraná 4,880 3,050 2,582,672 17,290 Río de la Plata, Atlantic Ocean
14 North America Saint Lawrence 3,058 1,900 1,030,000 16,800 Gulf of Saint Lawrence, Atlantic Ocean [14]
15 South America Marañón 1,737 1,079 358,000 16,708 Amazon River
16 Asia Ganga at Farakka Barrage 2,282 1,418 907,000 16,648 Padma River [15]
17 Asia Mekong 4,023 2,500 811,000 16,000 South China Sea, Pacific Ocean [1][2]
18 Asia Lena 4,294 2,668 2,490,000 15,500 Laptev Sea, Arctic Ocean [16]
19 Asia Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwady) 2,210 1,370 411,000 15,112 Andaman Sea, Indian Ocean
20 South America Tocantins 2,699 1,677 920,000 13,600 Atlantic Ocean [17]
21 South America Tapajos 840 520 492,481 13,540 Amazon River [18]
22 South America Ucayali 2,670 1,659 337,519 13,500 Amazon River
23 Asia Ob 3,700 2,299 2,990,000 12,475 Gulf of Ob, Arctic Ocean [1][2]
24 Asia Amur 4,352 2,714 1,855,000 10,739 Sea of Okhotsk, Pacific Ocean [1]
25 North America Mackenzie 1,738 1,080 1,790,000 9,910 Beaufort Sea, Arctic Ocean [1]
26 Africa Kasai 2,272 1,405 881,890 9,873 Congo River
27 South America Xingu-Culuene 2,240 1,392 531,250 9,700 Amazon River
28 Asia Pearl 2,400 1,491 453,700 9,500 South China Sea [19]
29 South America Madre de Dios 1,347 837 281,000 9,350 Madeira River
30 South America Putumayo/Içá 1,813 1,121 148,000 8,760 Amazon River
31 South America Juruá 2,410 1,498 225,828 8,420 Amazon River
32 South America Purus 3,211 1,995 371,042 8,400 Amazon River
33 South America Guaviare 1,497 930 140,000 8,200 Orinoco River
34 South America Mamoré 1,930 1,199 611,800 8,150 Madeira River
35 Europe Volga 3,531 2,194 1,380,000 8,060 Caspian Sea
36 North America Ohio 1,579 981 490,601 7,957 Mississippi River[note 1] [20]
37 North America Columbia 2,000 1,243 668,000 7,500 Pacific Ocean
38 Oceania Fly 1,060 649 76,000 7,500 Gulf of Papua, Coral Sea, Pacific Ocean
39 Asia Xi 2,197 1,359 409,480 7,410 Pearl River
40 South America Magdalena 1,540 963 257,438 7,200 Atlantic Ocean
41 Europe Danube 2,860 1,777 817,000 7,130 Black Sea, Atlantic Ocean
42 Asia Indus 3,200 2,000 1,165,000 6,930 Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean
43 South America Meta 1,200 742 93,800 6,500 Orinoco River
44 Asia Kapuas 1,143 710 98,749 6,500 South China Sea, Pacific Ocean
45 North America Yukon 3,187 1,980 854,696 6,428 Bering Sea, Pacific Ocean
46 South America Napo 1,075 665 100,518 6,300 Amazon River
47 South America Araguaia 2,627 1,632 358,125 6,216 Tocantins River [12]
48 Oceania Sepik 1,146 700 80,321 6,163 Bismarck Sea, Pacific Ocean
49 North America Niagara 58 36 684,000 5,796 Lake Ontario
50 Africa Niger 4,167 2,589 2,090,000 5,589 Atlantic Ocean [1]
51 South America Uruguay 1,838 1,140 365,000 5,500 Río de la Plata, Atlantic Ocean
52 Asia Aldan 2,273 1,412 729,000 5,489 Lena River [12]
53 South America Branco 775 479 195,000 5,400 Rio Negro
54 North America Detroit 51 32 1,813[dubious – discuss] 5,324 Lake Erie
55 North America St. Clair 63 39 576,000 5,200 Lake St. Clair
56 Asia Salween 2,815 1,749 320,000 4,978 Andaman Sea, Indian Ocean
57 South America Caroní 952 595 95,000 4,850 Orinoco River
58 Africa Ogooué River 1,200 747 86,431 4,706 Atlantic Ocean
59 Asia Chindwin 1,207 750 114,000 4,636 Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwady) River
60 Oceania Mamberamo 1,175 727 79,774 4,580 Pacific Ocean
61 Europe Pechora 1,809 1,124 289,532 4,533 Barents Sea, Arctic Ocean
62 South America Essequibo 1,014 627 151,000 4,531 Atlantic Ocean
63 Asia Angara 1,779 1,100 1,079,000 4,530 Yenisei River
64 South America Juruena 1,240 770 190,391 4,360 Tapajos River
65 Asia Kama 1,805 1,122 507,000 4,100 Volga River
66 Africa Ubangi 2,272 1,405 772,800 4,000 Congo River
67 Asia Mahakam 980 609 77,100 4,000 Makassar Strait, Pacific Ocean
68 South America Teles Pires 1,638 1,013 141,718 3,978 Tapajos River
69 South America Apaporis 1,370 847 54,300 3,900 Japurá River
70 Asia Kolyma 2,129 1,317 644,000 3,800 East Siberian Sea, Arctic Ocean
71 Asia Barito 890 550 70,000 3,706 Java Sea, Pacific Ocean
72 Asia Nizhnyaya Tunguska 2,989 1,848 473,000 3,680 Yenisei River
73 Asia Upper Meghna 1,040 643 82,000 3,600 Lower Meghna River
74 Asia Godavari 1,465 910 312,812 3,505 Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean [15]
75 South America Huallaga 1,138 704 85,000 3,500 Marañón River
76 North America Fraser 1,375 854 220,000 3,475 Pacific Ocean
77 Asia Kaladan 450 278 3,468 Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean
78 North America Slave 434 270 616,400 3,414 Great Slave Lake
79 South America Aripuanã 870 540 145,000 3,400 Madeira River
80 Africa Zambezi 2,574 1,599 1,331,000 3,400 Indian Ocean [21]
81 Asia Northern Dvina 744 462 357,052 3,332 White Sea, Barents Sea, Arctic Ocean [1]
82 Asia Khatanga 1,636 1,012 364,000 3,320 Khatanga Gulf, Laptev Sea, Arctic Ocean
83 Oceania Kikori 405 250 23,309 3,274 Gulf of Papua, Coral Sea, Pacific Ocean
84 South America Parnaíba 1,070 662 220,000 3,200 Atlantic Ocean
85 South America Jutai 1,200 742 60,000 3,000 Amazon River
86 South America Caura 723 449 52,000 3,000 Orinoco River
87 Asia Ghaghara 1,080 671 127,950 2,990 Ganga River [22]
88 Asia Irtysh 4,248 2,627 1,673,470 2,980 Ob River
89 Asia Yamuna 1,376 855 366,223 2,950 Ganga River [22]
90 South America São Francisco 2,830 1,758 641,000 2,943 Atlantic Ocean [23]
91 Europe Rhine 1,233 820 198,735 2,900 North Sea, Atlantic Ocean [24]
92 South America Beni 1,100 680 2,875 Madre de Dios River
93 South America Trombetas 1,060 656 135,239 2,855 Amazon River
94 Africa Nile 6,853 4,258 3,400,000 2,830 Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean [1]
95 Asia Gan 599 372 103,211 2,812 Yangtze River
96 South America Tambo 1,000 618 135,000 2,800 Ucayali River
97 Africa Ruki 1,300 804 173,800 2,800 Congo River
98 North America Koksoak 137 85 133,400 2,800 Ungava Bay, Arctic Ocean
99 South America Pastaza 740 458 41,000 2,770 Marañón River
100 South America Iriri 1,300 810 130,000 2,745 Xingu River
101 South America Tigre 940 581 54,200 2,700 Marañón River
102 Africa Kwango 1,100 680 263,500 2,700 Kasai River
103 South America Paraguay 2,621 1,629 365,592 2,700 Parana River
104 Asia Red 1,149 714 143,700 2,640 Gulf of Tonkin, South China Sea, Pacific Ocean
105 South America Vaupés/Uaupes 1,050 649 50,000 2,625 Rio Negro
106 Asia Yellow 5,464 3,395 752,000 2,571 East China Sea, Pacific Ocean
107 South America Atrato 750 466 36,231 2,569 Atlantic Ocean [25]
108 Asia Pyasina 818 508 182,000 2,550 Kara Sea, Arctic Ocean
109 Asia Amu Darya 2,400 1,491 534,739 2,525 Aral Sea
110 Africa Sankuru 1,200 756 156,000 2,500 Kasai River
111 South America Tietê 1,150 715 150,000 2,500 Paraná River
112 Asia Koshi 729 453 69,300 2,500 Ganga River [22]
113 Africa Sangha 790 489 213,400 2,471 Congo River
114 Asia Songhua 1,434 887 557,180 2,463 Amur River
115 South America Javari 1,184 732 90,000 2,463 Amazon River
116 Europe Neva 74 46 281,000 2,445 Baltic Sea, Atlantic Ocean [26]
117 North America Missouri 3,767 2,341 1,371,010 2,445 Mississippi River [1]
118 North America Liard 1,115 693 277,100 2,434 Mackenzie River
119 South America Guapore 1,260 783 341,000 2,430 Mamoré River
120 South America Rio Grande 1,360 841 143,000 2,400 Paraná River
121 Africa Benue 1,370 847 2,400 Niger River
122 North America Nelson 2,575 1600 982,900 2,370 Hudson Bay, Arctic Ocean [27]
123 South America Cauca 1,180 730 59,840 2,364 Magdalena River
124 South America Yarí 620 383 31,650 2,360 Japurá River
125 South America Urubamba 724 448 60,300 2,330 Ucayali River
126 South America Apure 1,038 645 121,400 2,300 Orinoco River
127 Asia Krishna River 1,400 870 258,948 2,213 Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean [15]
128 Asia Xiang 948 589 94,721 2,157 Yangtze River
129 North America St. Marys 120 75 127,700 2,135 Lake Huron
130 Asia Jialing 1,345 836 160,000 2,120 Yangtze River
131 Asia Mahanadi 858 533 141,600 2,119 Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean [15]
132 North America Peace 1,923 1,195 306,000 2,110 Slave River
133 Asia Olyokma 1,436 892 210,000 2,110 Lena River
134 South America San Juan 380 240 15,000 2,055 Pacific Ocean
135 Asia Hongshui 669.6 416.1 141,674 2,049 Xi River
136 Asia Gandaki 814 506 46,300 2,025 Ganga River
137 South America Ventuari 520 322 40,000 2,000 Orinoco River
138 South America Inírida 1,300 804 2,000 Guaviare River
139 South America Vichada 580 359 25,000 2,000 Orinoco River
140 Africa Aruwimi 1,030 640 116,100 2,000 Congo River
Relative Size of the Largest Rivers on Earth

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Because it has a larger discharge than the Mississippi River at their confluence, The Ohio River is technically the main stream of the Mississippi River System

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m Rivers of the Earth[unreliable source?] Archived August 14, 2004, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Gupta, Avijit (2007). Large rivers: geomorphology and management. John Wiley and Sons. p. 31. ISBN 978-0-470-84987-3. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Beijing: Chinese Academy of Sciences. 2011-08-22. Archived from the original on 2016-05-03. Retrieved 2017-02-17. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Britannica". britannica.com. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  5. ^ Monente, José A. (1997). "Factores que controlan el caudal del Orinoco" (PDF) (in Spanish).
  6. ^ Seyler, Patrick; Laurence Maurice-Bourgoin; Jean Loup Guyot. "Hydrological Control on the Temporal Variability of Trace Element Concentration in the Amazon River and its Main Tributaries". Geological Survey of Brazil (CPRM). Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  7. ^ Agência Nacional de Águas (ANA) e Secretaria Nacional de Recursos Hídricos ([1])
  8. ^ R. Ziesler and G.D. Ardizzone: The Inland Waters of Latin America. COPESCAL Technical Paper No. 1, FAO, Fishery Information, Data and Statistics Service, Rome 1979 [2]
  9. ^ Kammerer, J.C. (May 1990). "Largest Rivers in the United States". U.S. Geological Survey. Archived from the original on June 30, 2017. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
  10. ^ "USGS Surface-Water Annual Statistics for Louisiana". United States Geological Survey.
  11. ^ "Scientists pinpoint sources of four major international rivers". Xinhua News Agency. 22 August 2011. Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  12. ^ Jump up to: a b c GRDC Database Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ "Station: Igarka". Yenisei Basin. UNH / GRDC. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
  14. ^ Benke, Arthur C.; Cushing, Colbert E. (2005). Rivers of North America. Academic Press. pp. 989–990. ISBN 978-0-12-088253-3. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Kumar, Rakesh; Singh, R.D.; Sharma, K.D. (2005-09-10). "Water Resources of India" (PDF). Current Science. Bangalore: Current Science Association. 89 (5): 794–811. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
  16. ^ http://www.abratsev.narod.ru/biblio/sokolov/p1ch23b.html, Sokolov, Eastern Siberia // Hydrography of USSR. (in russian)
  17. ^ The Hydrographi Region of The Amazon
  18. ^ Lynch, Christine (2012). "The Amazon River Basin; CE 397 – Transboundary Waters" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-05-28.
  19. ^ "Chapter 5: Plate D-6 — GES DISC: Goddard Earth Sciences, Data & Information Services Center". Disc.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov. Archived from the original on 2013-02-03. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  20. ^ Leeden, Frits van der; Fcrimson L. Troise; David Keith Todd (1990). The Water Encyclopedia (2nd ed.). Chelsea, Mich.: Lewis Publishers. p. 126. ISBN 0-87371-120-3.
  21. ^ "Fragmentation and Flow Regulation of the World's Large River Systems" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-30. Retrieved 2011-08-16.
  22. ^ Jump up to: a b c Jain, Sharad K.; Agarwal, Pushpendra K.; Singh, Vijay P. (2007). Hydrology and water resources of India. Springer. p. 341. ISBN 978-1-4020-5179-1. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
  23. ^ São Francisco River[circular reference]
  24. ^ Rhine case study; Technical documents in hydrology: PC-CP series; Vol.:17; 2003
  25. ^ "Chapter 14" (PDF). The Pacific and Caribbean Rivers of Colombia: Water Discharge, Sediment Transport and Dissolved Loads. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-25. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
  26. ^ Nezhihovsky, R. A. (1981). Neva River and Neva Bay. Gidrometeoizdat.
  27. ^ Nelson River[circular reference]
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