Largest Rivers in America: List of Top 15 Rivers

List of Top Largest Rivers in America: The Missouri River is the largest in America with a length of 2341 miles. In the Oxford Dictionary, Rivers are defined to be a fine and large amount of liquid following a direction. It is usually streamlined in nature streaming from one direction to another and is continuously flowing. It may flow into a larger water body with boundaries.

America has more than 250,000 rivers passing through various routes but the Largest River in America is the Missouri River with about length of 2,341 miles. Let us have a look at the other 15 largest rivers in America.

List of Largest Rivers in America and its Comparative Analysis

Discovering the Largest Rivers of the USA with its comparison of various features, this article shall provide a gist of the required information about the List of 15 Largest Rivers in America and its comparison:

S. No.	River Name	Length	Uses and Functions	States it flows through
1	Missouri River	2341 miles	1. Transportation for goods 2. Water supply for commons 3. Hydropower generation	Missouri, Colorado, Lowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wyoming
2	Mississippi River	2320 miles	1. Navigation and Irrigation 2. Fishing and Boating 3. Hydropower Generation for Dams	Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois
3	Yukon River	1982 miles	1. Water supply to remote areas 2. Tourism Activities	Alaska and Yukon and British Columbia, Canada
4	Rio Grande River	1885 miles	1. International border between Mexico and USA 2. Irrigation and municipal water supply	Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico
5	Arkansas River	1469 miles	1. Navigation and Irrigation 2. Kayaking and Boating 3. Hydroelectric power generation	Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas
6	Colorado River	1450 miles	1. Water supply to Arizona and Nevada 2. Whitewater Rafting and boating 3. Hydropower generation for Hoover Dam	Colorado, Utah, Arizona, California and Nevada
7	Red River	1360 miles	1. Navigation 2. Irrigation	Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana
8	Columbia River	1243 miles	1. Irrigation and recreating activities 2. Navigation to Portland and Vancouver	Oregon, Washington & British Columbia, Canada
9	Snake River	1040 miles	1. Whitewater Rafting 2. Commercial activities	Wyoming, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho
10	Ohio River	981 miles	1. Major Transportation in Cincinnati 2. Water Supply	Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana

1. Missouri River

It’s the longest river in North America. It’s about 2,341 miles long and it begins in the Rocky Mountains. The Native Americans and the explorers used it for a long time to travel across America. It passes through the Great Plains, where it helps farmers grow crops and supports lots of animals. It also helps lots of different animals and plants live. It gives water for farming, helps boats move around and makes electricity.

2. Mississippi River

The Mississippi River is a well-known river in America. It’s extremely long and stretches for about 2,340 miles. People have used it for a long time to travel and transport things. It passes through many states like Minnesota, Illinois and Louisiana. This river is big and has powerful currents and it’s where lots of different animals live.This is the 2nd Largest River in America.

3. Yukon River

The Yukon River is considered as one of the huge river in Alaska and Canada. It begins in the mountains and runs through wild and isolated areas with around 1,980 miles. People have been using this river for thousands of years to travel, fish, and trade. It’s crucial for the communities that live nearby, like a lifeline for them. This is the 3rd Largest River in America.

4. Rio Grande River

The Rio Grande is a huge body which begins in Colorado and it travels through New Mexico until it reaches the Gulf of Mexico. The water body measures about 1,896 long hauls and is considered one of the 15 largest in America. This river is considered as crucial for growing crops and providing water for millions of people and countless animals in dry regions.

5. Arkansas River

Arkansas River which starts from the Rocky Mountains in central Colorado which covers nearly 1,469 long hauls. It travels through the Great Plains and further joins the Mississippi River and is considered as one of the 15 largest gutters in the US. Along its trip, it passes through different types of geographies, from mountains to wide denes, which are important for the ecosystems and communities living hard. This is the 5th Largest River in America.

6. Colorado River

The Colorado River is about 1,450 long hauls long which makes it the sixth longest water body in the U.S. It goes through seven countries and two countries as considered as one of the 15th most longest rivers in the US. It covers Colorado receptacle which is about 260,000 square long hauls considered as 8 percent of the entire United States. The swash flows from 11 public premises and monuments. it comes under one of the 8 wonders of the world. This is the 6th Largest River in America.

7. Red River

The Red River is in the Mississippi drainage basin and is considered as one of two Red Rivers in the country. It’s the second longest river linked to Texas. The name “Red” comes from its color, which happens because it carries lots of red soil during floods. The river has a lot of salt in it. Overall, the Red River is 1,360 miles long. It usually features in making of salt from the river as the content is very high. This is the 7th Largest River in America.

8. Columbia River

The Columbia River is one of the 15th biggest river that flows into the Pacific Ocean from North America. It’s not as big as the Mississippi,St. The Columbia River is super important because it generates a lot of hydroelectric power which means it produces electricity using water. Together with its lower flow that join it, it has about one- third of the hydropower eventuality of the United States. This is the 8th Largest River in America.

9. Snake River

The Snake River starts in Wyoming and it flows through southern Idaho, also turns north along the Idaho- Oregon. It’s really important for irrigation, helping crops like potatoes and sugar beets grow. Plus, it’s great for out-of-door conditioning like fishing and recreation. The total length of this river is around 1040 miles. There used to be a lot of salmon in the water but now they are moreover gone or in peril of fading because of over-fishing. This is the 9th Largest River in America.

10. Ohio River

The Ohio River is nearly 981 miles long which starts in Pittsburgh. It goes through six countries and gathers water from numerous further places. Over five million people drink water from it and nearly 10% of the US population lives hard. There are 20 banks along the water beds, managed by the Army Corps. These heads have altered the water’s inflow, making it muddier and harming wildlife. This is the 10th Largest River in America.

11. Tennessee River

The Tennessee River begins in east Knoxville, where two other rivers join together, and it goes on for 935 miles. It’s the fifth biggest river system and the largest one flowing into the Ohio River. It starts in Knoxville, then goes through downtown and southwest to Chattanooga.

After that, it turns westward and heads into northern Alabama. Fishing in the Tennessee River is pretty easy, especially in Knoxville. You can fish from the greenways, piers, or docks along the river. This is the 11th Largest River in America.

12. Canadian River

The Canadian Basin is the northernmost swash area in Texas. The average length of the river is 906 miles. Because it does not get important rain and loses a lot of water to evaporation, it does not have a lot of water flowing through it on normal. The swash in this area might be called the Canadian River because some early explorers allowed it to flow into Canada. This is the 12th Largest River in America.

13. Texas Colorado River aka Colorado River if Texas

The Texas Colorado River stretches further about 862 miles long hauls and is the longest river contained within a single state. It’s super important for Texas, helping out with its frugality, terrain and husbandry and it’s a big part of livelihood.

It starts up in northwest Texas and heads southeast, passing through lots of different municipalities and natural areas before it ends up in the Gulf of Mexico at Matagorda Bay. As it flows, it creates the Highland Lakes and runs right through town Austin, which is one of the swift- growing metropolises in the whole country. This is the 13th Largest River in America.

14. Brazos River

The Brazos River, which is Texas’ longest river which is 840 long and covers a drainage area of 41,700 square long. It starts in New Mexico and flows to the Gulf of Mexico. Along its trip, it passes through different geographies like the plains of West Texas and the flat Coastal Plain. Its main river was named” Los Brazos de Dios” by Spanish explorers as flows from Stonewall County to the Gulf of Mexico. This is the 14th Largest River in America.

15. Green River

The Green River is situated in the western United States. It starts from the Continental Divide which is in the Wind River Range in west-central Wyoming. Then, it flows mostly south through southwestern Wyoming, where it’s blocked by a dam near La Barge to make the Fontenelle Reservoir. The average length of the river is around 730 miles. This is the 15th Largest River in America.

Conclusion – Largest Rivers in America

The 15 Largest Rivers in America exhibit most natural features of serving the people, having specific boundaries, have importance of international and state boundaries, have shelves and protect the wildlife and water animals as well. The flowing river acts as a connectivity between states and nations and unites them. Thus, it is our duty to keep this as a blessing rather than a burden.

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FAQs on Largest Rivers in America

How does the Largest Rivers in America help in trade and economy?

The Largest Rivers in America help in trade and economy by providing employment, ecological services, water supply to industry, tourism, irrigation and Agriculture and many more.

What are the uses of 15 Large Rivers in America?

The uses of 15 Largest Rivers in America differ as per their different locations but majorly Missouri River is in navigation and Hydroelectric power, Mississippi is transportation and recreation of activities which covers all.

What are the common challenges faced due to or by Largest Rivers of America?

Most significant challenge faced by Largest River in America is Pollution, flood risks, socio economic challenges, environmental and climate change risks, over extraction of waters and water scarcity.

Which is the largest river by discharge and how transportation occurs?

The Largest River in America by discharge is Mississippi River and the transportation usually occurs through barges, ferries and tow boats with bulk goods. Many a times Cargo ships are also used for the same purposes.

Which river is the largest in USA?

Missouri River is the longest river in North America. It’s about 2,341 miles long and it begins in the Rocky Mountains.