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Major continental divides , showing drainage into the major oceans and seas of the world--Drainage basins of the principal oceans and seas of the world. Grey areas are endorheic basins that do not drain to the ocean.
The list of drainage basins by area identifies basins (also known as "catchments" or, in North American usage, "watersheds"), sorted by area, which drain to oceans , mediterranean seas , rivers, lakes and other water bodies. All basins larger than 400,000 km2 (150,000 sq mi) are included as well as selected smaller basins. It includes drainage basins which do not flow to the ocean (endorheic basins ). It includes oceanic sea drainage basins which have hydrologically coherent areas (oceanic seas are set by IHO convention ).
The oceans drain approximately 83% of the land in the world. The other 17% – an area larger than the basin of the Arctic Ocean – drains to internal endorheic basins. There are also substantial areas of the world that do not "drain" in the commonly understood sense. In polar deserts , much of the snowfall sublimates directly into the air and does not melt into flowing water, while in tropical deserts precipitation may evaporate before joining any substantial water course. These areas can still be included in topographically defined basins if the hypothetical flow of water (or ice) over the surface of the ground (or ice sheet) is considered. For example, the Antarctic ice sheet can be divided into basins,[ 1] and most of Libya is included in the Mediterranean Sea basin even though almost no water from the interior actually reaches the sea.
Basin
Type
Continent
Drains to
Basin area
Notes
km2
mi2
Atlantic Ocean
Ocean
Multiple
n/a
69,800,000
26,900,000
[ Note 1] [ 2]
Arctic Ocean
Ocean
Multiple
n/a
23,100,000
8,900,000
[ Note 1]
Pacific Ocean
Ocean
Multiple
n/a
20,300,000
7,800,000
[ Note 1] [ 2]
Indian Ocean
Ocean
Multiple
n/a
19,400,000
7,500,000
[ Note 1]
Southern Ocean
Ocean
Antarctica
n/a
14,000,000
5,400,000
[ Note 1] [ Note 2]
Mediterranean -Black Sea system
Mediterranean sea
Multiple
Atlantic Ocean [ Note 3]
7,770,000
3,000,000
[ 3]
Amazon River
Primary river
South America
Atlantic Ocean
6,200,000
2,400,000
[ 4]
Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea
Mediterranean sea
Multiple
Atlantic Ocean [ Note 3]
6,200,000
2,400,000
[ Note 1]
Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean sea
Multiple
Atlantic Ocean [ Note 3]
5,880,000
2,270,000
2,060,000
[ 3]
Hudson Bay drainage basin
Mediterranean sea
North America
Atlantic Ocean
3,861,400
1,490,900
Congo River
Primary river
Africa
Atlantic Ocean
3,730,881
1,440,501
[ 4]
Caspian Sea
Lake
Asia/Europe
n/a (endorheic basin )
3,626,000
1,400,000
Nile River
Primary river
Africa
Mediterranean Sea
3,254,853
1,256,706
[ 4]
Mississippi-Missouri River
Primary river
North America
Gulf of Mexico
3,202,185
1,236,371
[ 4]
Bay of Bengal
Bay
Asia
Indian Ocean
3,200,000
1,200,000
Río de la Plata
Estuary
South America
Atlantic Ocean
3,170,000
1,220,000
[ 5]
Ob River
Primary river
Asia
Arctic Ocean
2,982,493
1,151,547
[ 4]
Paraná River
Tributary river
South America
Río de la Plata
2,582,704
997,188
[ 4]
Yenisei River
Primary river
Asia
Arctic Ocean
2,554,388
986,255
[ 4]
Chad Basin
Endorheic basin
Africa
n/a (endorheic basin)
2,497,738
964,382
[ 4]
Lena River
Primary river
Asia
Arctic Ocean
2,306,743
890,638
[ 4]
Black Sea
Mediterranean sea
Asia/Europe
Mediterranean Sea [ Note 3]
2,430,000
940,000
[ 3]
Niger River
Primary river
Africa
Atlantic Ocean
2,261,741
873,263
[ 4]
Ganges –Brahmaputra
Primary river
Asia
Bay of Bengal
1,999,000
772,000
[ 6]
Amur River
Primary river
Asia
Pacific Ocean
1,929,955
745,160
[ 4]
Mackenzie River
Primary river
North America
Beaufort Sea
1,805,200
697,000
[ 7]
Yangtze River (Chang Jiang)
Primary river
Asia
Pacific Ocean
1,722,193
664,942
[ 4]
Baltic Sea
Mediterranean sea
Europe
Atlantic Ocean [ Note 3]
1,700,000
660,000
[ Note 1]
Irtysh River
Tributary river
Asia
Ob River
1,673,470
646,130
Aral Sea
Lake
Asia
n/a (endorheic basin)
1,618,750
625,000
Madeira River
Tributary river
South America
Amazon River
1,485,218
573,446
Volga River
Primary river
Europe
Caspian Sea
1,410,951
544,771
[ 4]
Persian Gulf
Mediterranean sea
Asia
Indian Ocean [ Note 3]
1,400,000
540,000
[ Note 1]
St. Lawrence Estuary
Estuary
North America
Gulf of Saint Lawrence
1,344,200
519,000
[ 4] [ 7]
Zambezi River
Primary river
Africa
Indian Ocean
1,332,574
514,510
[ 8]
Missouri River
Tributary river
North America
Mississippi River
1,331,810
514,210
Lake Eyre Basin
Lake
Australia
n/a (endorheic basin)
1,210,000
470,000
[ 9]
Ganges River
Primary river
Asia
Bay of Bengal
1,200,000
463,322
[ 4]
Paraguay River
Tributary river
South America
Paraná River
1,095,000
423,000
Indus River
Primary river
Asia
Arabian Sea
1,081,718
417,654
[ 4]
Nelson River
Primary river
North America
Hudson Bay
1,072,300
414,000
[ 10]
Murray-Darling basin
Primary river
Australia
Southern Ocean
1,050,116
405,452
[ 4]
St. Lawrence River
Primary river
North America
Atlantic Ocean
1,049,636
405,267
[ 4]
Angara River
Tributary river
Asia
Yenisei River
1,039,000
401,000
[ 11]
Lake Chad (New Conventional Basin)
Lake
Africa
n/a (endorheic basin)
1,035,000
400,000
[ 12]
Lake Winnipeg
Lake
North America
Nelson River
982,900
379,500
[ 10]
Great Slave Lake
Lake
North America
Mackenzie River
976,200
376,900
Orinoco River
Primary river
South America
Atlantic Ocean
953,675
368,216
[ 4]
Orange River
Primary river
Africa
Atlantic Ocean
941,351
363,458
[ 4]
Kasai River
Tributary river
Africa
Congo River
925,172
357,211
Shatt al-Arab (Tigris , Euphrates & Karun )
Primary river
Asia
Persian Gulf
916,200
353,700
[ 13]
Tarim Basin
Endorheic basin
Asia
n/a (endorheic basin)
906,500
350,000
[ 14]
North Sea
Mediterranean sea
Europe
Atlantic Ocean
850,000
330,000
Yukon River
Primary river
North America
Bering Sea
839,200
324,000
[ 7]
Yellow River
Primary river
Asia
Pacific Ocean
832,238
321,329
[ 15] [ Note 4]
Mekong River
Primary river
Asia
Pacific Ocean
805,604
311,045
[ 4]
Jubba -Shebelle basin
Primary river
Africa
Indian Ocean
805,100
310,900
[ 16]
Great Lakes
Lake
North America
St. Lawrence River
800,114
308,926
Danube River
Primary river
Europe
Black Sea
795,656
307,204
[ 4]
Syr Darya
Primary river
Asia
Aral Sea
782,617
302,170
[ 4]
Tocantins River
Primary river
South America
Atlantic Ocean
764,213
295,064
[ 4]
Ubangi River
Tributary river
Africa
Congo River
754,830
291,440
Aldan River
Tributary river
Asia
Lena River
729,000
281,000
Kalahari Basin /Okavango Basin
Endorheic basin
Africa
n/a (endorheic basin)
721,258
278,479
[ 4] [ 17]
Rio Negro
Tributary river
South America
Amazon River
720,114
278,038
Kolyma River
Primary river
Asia
Arctic Ocean
679,934
262,524
[ 4]
Columbia River
Primary river
North America
Pacific Ocean
671,300
259,200
[ 7]
Brahmaputra River
Tributary river
Asia
Ganges River
651,335
251,482
[ 4]
Colorado River
Primary river
North America
Gulf of California
637,137
246,000
Mamoré River
Tributary river
South America
Madeira River
630,835
243,567
[ 18]
Red Sea
Mediterranean sea
Africa/Asia
Indian Ocean [ Note 3]
620,000
240,000
[ Note 1]
São Francisco River
Primary river
South America
Atlantic Ocean
617,812
238,539
Slave River
Tributary river
North America
Great Slave Lake
616,400
238,000
[ 7]
Rio Grande
Primary river
North America
Gulf of Mexico
607,934
234,725
[ 4]
Lake Baikal
Lake
Asia
Angara River
571,000
220,000
Songhua River
Tributary river
Asia
Amur River
554,575
214,123
[ 19]
Chari River
Primary river
Africa
Lake Chad
548,747
211,872
Amu Darya
Primary river
Asia
Aral Sea
534,739
206,464
[ 4]
Euphrates
Tributary river
Asia
Shatt al-Arab
532,300
205,500
[ 20]
Xingu River
Tributary river
South America
Amazon River
520,292
200,886
Bahr el Ghazal River
Tributary river
Africa
Nile
520,000
200,000
Lake Balkhash
Lake
Asia
n/a (endorheic basin)
512,015
197,690
[ 4]
Dnieper River
Primary river
Europe
Black Sea
511,650
197,550
[ 21] [ Note 5]
Kama River
Tributary river
Europe
Volga River
507,000
196,000
Jubba River
Primary river
Africa
Indian Ocean
497,626
192,134
[ 4] [ Note 6]
Great Basin
Endorheic basin
North America
n/a (endorheic basin)
492,000
190,000
[ 22] [ Note 7]
Ohio River
Tributary river
North America
Mississippi River
490,603
189,423
Lower Tunguska River
Tributary river
Asia
Yenisei river
473,000
183,000
Vilyuy River
Tributary river
Asia
Lena River
454,000
175,000
Pearl River
Primary river
Asia
Pacific Ocean
453,700
175,200
Tapajós River
Tributary river
South America
Amazon River
453,510
175,100
[ 23]
Selenga River
Tributary river
Asia
Lake Baikal
445,245
171,910
Don River
Primary river
Europe
Black Sea
443,729
171,325
[ 24] [ Note 8]
Arkansas River
Tributary river
North America
Mississippi River
435,122
168,002
Tobol River
Tributary river
Asia
Irtysh River
426,000
164,000
Limpopo River
Primary river
Africa
Indian Ocean
421,123
162,596
[ 4]
Senegal River
Primary river
Africa
Atlantic Ocean
419,575
161,999
[ 4]
Irrawaddy River
Primary river
Asia
Indian Ocean
413,710
159,730
[ 4]
Volta River
Primary river
Africa
Atlantic Ocean
407,093
157,179
[ 4]
Colorado River (Argentina)
Primary river
South America
Atlantic Ocean
373,863
144,349
[ 26] [ Note 9]
Sistan Basin
Endorheic basin
Asia
n/a (endorheic basin)
370,000
140,000
[ 28]
Molopo River
Tributary river
Africa
Orange River
367,201
141,777
Yamuna
Tributary river
Asia
Ganges
366,223
141,399
Uruguay River
Primary river
South America
Río de la Plata
365,000
141,000
[ Note 10]
Khatanga River
Primary river
Asia
Arctic Ocean
364,000
141,000
Marañón River
Tributary river
South America
Amazon River
363,286
140,266
[ 29]
Guaporé River
Tributary river
South America
Mamoré River
360,534
139,203
[ 18]
Indigirka River
Primary river
Asia
Arctic Ocean
360,400
139,200
Araguaia River
Tributary river
South America
Tocantins River
358,125
138,273
Northern Dvina
Primary river
Europe
White Sea
357,075
137,867
[ 4]
Xi River
Tributary river
Asia
Pearl River
353,100
136,300
Purus River
Tributary river
South America
Amazon River
352,085
135,941
[ 30]
Ucayali River
Tributary river
South America
Amazon River
337,519
130,317
Shebelle River
Tributary river
Africa
Jubba River
336,627
129,972
Saskatchewan River
Tributary river
North America
Lake Winnipeg
335,900
129,700
[ 7]
Benue River
Tributary river
Africa
Niger River
335,035
129,358
Parnaíba River
Primary river
South America
Atlantic Ocean
331,643
128,048
[ 31] [ Note 11]
Blue Nile
Tributary river
Africa
Nile
325,000
125,000
Pechora River
Primary river
Europe
Arctic Ocean
322,000
124,000
Hai River
Primary river
Asia
Pacific Ocean
318,200
122,900
Godavari River
Primary river
Asia
Indian Ocean
314,829
121,556
[ 33]
Peace River
Tributary river
North America
Slave River
306,000
118,000
Panjnad River (Chenab & Sutlej)
Tributary river
Asia
Indus River
300,000
120,000
Baker Lake /Chesterfield Inlet
Lake / estuary
North America
Hudson Bay
299,000
115,000
[ 34]
Red River of the North
Tributary river
North America
Lake Winnipeg
287,500
111,000
[ 7]
Churchill River (Hudson Bay)
Primary river
North America
Hudson Bay
281,300
108,600
[ 7]
Neva River
Primary river
Europe
Baltic Sea
281,000
108,000
Taz Estuary
Estuary
Asia
Arctic Ocean
262,000
101,000
Snake River
Tributary river
North America
Columbia River
278,450
107,510
Liard River
Tributary river
North America
Mackenzie River
277,100
107,000
[ 7]
Lake Athabasca -Rivière des Rochers
Lake
North America
Slave River
274,540
106,000
Salween River
Primary river
Asia
Indian Ocean
271,888
104,977
[ 4] [ Note 12]
Lukuga River
Tributary river
Africa
Congo River
270,900
104,600
Luvua River
Tributary river
Africa
Congo River
265,300
102,400
Kwango River
Tributary river
Africa
Kasai River
263,400
101,700
Desaguadero River
Tributary river
South America
Colorado River or Endorheic
260,000
100,000
Mapimí -Salado basin
Endorheic basin
North America
n/a (endorheic basin)
260,000
100,000
Krishna River
Primary river
Asia
Indian Ocean
258,948
99,980
Magdalena River
Primary river
South America
Atlantic Ocean
257,438
99,397
Dongting Lake
Lake
Asia
Yangtze River
257,000
99,000
[ 36]
Japurá/Caquetá River
Tributary river
South America
Amazon River
255,700
98,700
Nen River
Tributary river
Asia
Songhua River
252,100
97,300
[ 37]
Oka River
Tributary river
Europe
Volga
245,000
95,000
Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta
Primary river
Europe
North Sea
240,000
93,000
Stony Tunguska River
Tributary river
Asia
Yenisei river
240,000
93,000
Beni River
Tributary river
South America
Madeira River
239,825
92,597
[ 18]
Lake Victoria
Lake
Africa
Nile River
238,900
92,200
Yana River
Primary river
Asia
Arctic Ocean
238,000
92,000
Lake Tanganyika
Lake
Africa
Lukuga River
236,300
91,200
Sangha River
Tributary river
Africa
Congo River
233,740
90,250
[ 38]
Fraser River
Primary river
North America
Pacific Ocean
233,100
90,000
[ 7]
Zeya River
Tributary river
Asia
Amur River
233,000
90,000
Liao River
Primary river
Asia
Pacific Ocean
232,200
89,700
Ural River
Primary river
Asia/Europe
Caspian Sea
231,000
89,000
Juruá River
Tributary river
South America
Amazon River
225,828
87,193
Sobat River
Tributary river
Africa
Nile River
225,000
87,000
Vitim River
Tributary river
Asia
Lena River
225,000
87,000
Ogooué River
Primary river
Africa
Atlantic Ocean
223,856
86,431
Tigris River
Tributary river
Asia
Shatt al-Arab
221,400
85,500
[ 39]
Platte River
Tributary river
North America
Missouri River
219,916
84,910
Olenyok River
Primary river
Asia
Arctic Ocean
219,000
85,000
Olyokma River
Tributary river
Asia
Lena River
210,000
81,000
Shilka River
Tributary river
Asia
Amur River
206,000
80,000
Rufiji River
Primary river
Africa
Indian Ocean
204,450
78,940
[ 40]
Kura River
Primary river
Asia
Caspian Sea
198,300
76,600
Vaal River
Tributary river
Africa
Orange River
196,438
75,845
Vistula
Primary river
Europe
Baltic Sea
194,424
75,068
Ussuri River
Tributary river
Asia
Amur River
193,000
75,000
Juruena River
Tributary river
South America
Tapajos River
191,030
73,760
[ 23]
Anadyr River
Primary river
Asia
Bering Sea
191,000
74,000
Branco River
Tributary river
South America
Rio Negro
189,925
73,330
Ishim River
Tributary river
Asia
Irtysh River
189,000
73,000
Rhine
Primary river
Europe
North Sea
185,300
71,500
Komadugu-Yobe River
Primary river
Africa
Lake Chad
183,009
70,660
[ 41]
Assiniboine River
Tributary river
North America
Red River
182,000
70,000
[ 7]
Pyasina River
Primary river
Asia
Pyasina Gulf
182,000
70,000
Yellowstone River
Tributary river
North America
Missouri River
181,000
70,000
Uyandina River
Tributary river
Asia
Indigirka River
176,000
68,000
Kotuy River
Tributary river
Asia
Khatanga River
176,000
68,000
Chenab River
Tributary river
Asia
Panjnad River
176,000
68,000
[ 42]
Han River
Tributary river
Asia
Yangtze River
174,300
67,300
Huai River
Tributary river
Asia
Yangtze River
174,000
67,000
Tshuapa/Ruki River
Tributary river
Africa
Congo River
173,800
67,100
Maya River
Tributary river
Asia
Aldan River
171,000
66,000
Salado River (Buenos Aires)
Primary river
South America
Atlantic Ocean
170,000
66,000
Red River of the South
Tributary river
North America
Mississippi River
169,890
65,590
Red River
Primary river
Asia
Gulf of Tonkin
169,000
65,000
[ 43]
Cuvelai River -Etosha Basin
Endorheic basin
Africa
n/a (endorheic basin)
166,649
64,344
[ 44]
Chesapeake Bay
Estuary
North America
Atlantic Ocean
166,534
64,299
Helmand River
Primary river
Asia
Sistan Basin
166,000
64,000
[ 28]
Argun / Hailar River
Tributary river
Asia
Amur River
164,000
63,000
Chao Phraya River
Primary river
Asia
Gulf of Thailand
160,400
61,900
Hulun Lake
Lake
Asia
Amur River / endorheic
160,335
61,906
[ Note 13]
Jialing River
Tributary river
Asia
Yangtze River
160,000
62,000
Luangwa River
Tributary river
Africa
Zambezi River
159,615
61,628
[ 8]
Tisza River
Tributary river
Europe
Danube
157,186
60,690
Torgay/Turgai River
Primary river
Asia
n/a (endorheic basin)
157,000
61,000
Mbomou River
Tributary river
Africa
Ubangi River
156,950
60,600
Great Bear River
Tributary river
North America
Mackenzie River
156,500
60,400
Kafue River
Tributary river
Africa
Zambezi River
155,805
60,157
[ 8]
Kansas River
Tributary river
North America
Missouri River
155,695
60,114
Ruvuma River
Primary river
Africa
Indian Ocean
155,500
60,000
Essequibo River
Primary river
South America
Atlantic Ocean
154,186
59,532
Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta
Primary river
North America
San Francisco Bay
153,000
59,000
Ruo Shui
Primary river
Asia
Endorheic basin
152,606
58,922
[ 45]
Sankuru River
Tributary river
Africa
Kasai River
151,112
58,345
[ 46]
Atbarah River
Tributary river
Africa
Nile
150,000
58,000
[ Note 14]
Taz River
Primary river
Asia
Taz Estuary
150,000
58,000
Tietê River
Tributary river
South America
Paraná River
150,000
58,000
Cuanza River
Primary river
Africa
Atlantic Ocean
149,688
57,795
[ 4]
Shire River (Lake Malawi )
Tributary river
Africa
Zambezi River
149,159
57,591
[ 8]
Elbe
Primary river
Europe
North Sea
148,268
57,247
Putumayo River
Tributary river
South America
Amazon River
148,000
57,000
Bani River
Tributary river
Africa
Niger River
146,570
56,590
[ 47]
Ottawa River
Tributary river
North America
St. Lawrence River
146,300
56,500
[ 7]
South Saskatchewan River
Tributary river
North America
Saskatchewan River
146,100
56,400
[ 7]
Lake Titicaca -Desaguadero River -Lake Poopó System
Endorheic basin
South America
n/a (endorheic basin)
144,590
55,830
[ 48]
Chambal River
Tributary river
Asia
Yamuna River
143,219
55,297
Rio Grande (Paraná River)
Tributary river
South America
Paraná River
143,000
55,000
Fitzroy River (Queensland)
Primary river
Australia
Pacific Ocean
142,665
55,083
Thelon River
Primary river
North America
Baker Lake
142,400
55,000
[ 7]
Belaya River
Tributary river
Europe
Kama River
142,000
55,000
Iriri River
Tributary river
South America
Xingu River
141,745
54,728
[ 49]
Teles Pires River
Tributary river
South America
Tapajos River
141,620
54,680
[ 23]
Mahanadi River
Primary river
Asia
Indian Ocean
141,600
54,700
Ili River
Primary river
Asia
Lake Balkhash
140,000
54,000
Sanaga River
Primary river
Africa
Atlantic Ocean
140,000
54,000
[ 50]
Min River (Sichuan)
Tributary river
Asia
Yangtze River
140,000
54,000
Guaviare River
Tributary river
South America
Orinoco River
138,447
53,455
[ 51]
Santiago -Lerma basin
Primary river
North America
Pacific Ocean
136,628
52,752
Apure River
Tributary river
South America
Orinoco River
136,152
52,569
[ 52]
Winnipeg River
Tributary river
North America
Lake Winnipeg
135,800
52,400
[ 7]
Albany River
Primary river
North America
Hudson Bay
135,200
52,200
[ 7]
Wei River
Tributary river
Asia
Yellow River
135,000
52,000
Grijalva -Usumacinta basin
Primary river
North America
Gulf of Mexico
134,400
51,900
Chulym River
Tributary river
Asia
Ob River
134,000
52,000
Lukenie River
Tributary river
Africa
Congo River
133,432
51,518
[ 53]
Koksoak River
Primary river
North America
Ungava Bay
133,400
51,500
[ 7]
Orkhon River
Tributary river
Asia
Selenga River
132,835
51,288
Uele River
Tributary river
Africa
Ubangi River
131,856
50,910
[ 54]
Tambo -Ene -Apurímac River
Tributary river
South America
Ucayali River
131,460
50,760
[ 55]
Lake Turkana
Lake
Africa
n/a (endorheic basin)
130,860
50,530
Aripuanã River
Tributary river
South America
Madeira River
130,340
50,320
[ 18]
Malagarasi River
Tributary river
Africa
Lake Tanganyika
130,000
50,000
Mar Chiquita
Endorheic basin
South America
n/a (endorheic basin)
129,715
50,083
[ 56]
Burdekin River
Primary river
Australia
Pacific Ocean
129,700
50,100
Vyatka River
Tributary river
Europe
Kama River
129,000
50,000
Yalong River
Tributary river
Asia
Yangtze River
128,444
49,593
Taseyeva River
Tributary river
Asia
Angara River
128,000
49,000
Ghaghara / Karnali River
Tributary river
Asia
Ganges River
127,950
49,400
Trombetas River
Tributary river
South America
Amazon River
127,643
49,283
[ 57]
Tana River (Kenya)
Primary river
Africa
Indian Ocean
126,026
48,659
Madre de Dios River
Tributary river
South America
Beni River
125,287
48,374
[ 18]
Green River
Tributary river
North America
Colorado River
124,578
48,100
Kuskokwim River
Primary river
North America
Bering Sea
124,319
48,000
Salado River (Argentina)
Tributary river
South America
Paraná River
124,199
47,954
Taymyr River
Primary river
Asia
Kara Sea
124,000
48,000
Canadian River
Tributary river
North America
Arkansas River
123,221
47,576
Aruwimi River
Tributary river
Africa
Congo River
122,853
47,434
[ 58]
North Saskatchewan River
Tributary river
North America
Saskatchewan River
122,800
47,400
[ 7]
Prypiat River
Tributary river
Europe
Dnieper
121,840
47,040
Vychegda River
Tributary river
Europe
Northern Dvina
121,000
47,000
Mun River
Tributary river
Asia
Mekong River
119,180
46,020
Oder
Primary river
Europe
Baltic Sea
118,861
45,892
Porcupine River
Tributary river
North America
Yukon River
117,900
45,500
[ 7]
Loire
Primary river
Europe
Atlantic Ocean
117,000
45,000
Lomami River
Tributary river
Africa
Congo River
116,209
44,869
[ 59]
Brazos River
Primary river
North America
Gulf of Mexico
116,000
45,000
Awash Basin
Endorheic basin
Africa
n/a (endorheic basin )
116,000
45,000
Mobile River
Primary river
North America
Gulf of Mexico
115,000
44,000
Pecos River
Tributary river
North America
Rio Grande
115,000
44,000
Pilcomayo River
Tributary river
South America
Paraguay River
114,402
44,171
[ 60]
Sutlej River
Tributary river
Asia
Indus River
114,343
44,148
[ 61]
Panj River
Tributary river
Asia
Amu Darya River
114,000
44,000
Tanana River
Tributary river
North America
Yukon River
114,000
44,000
Kwando/Chobe River
Tributary river
Africa
Zambezi River
113,393
43,781
[ 8]
Omolon River
Tributary river
Asia
Kolyma River
113,000
44,000
Uchur River
Tributary river
Asia
Aldan River
113,000
44,000
Balsas River
Primary river
North America
Pacific Ocean
112,320
43,370
Pur River
Primary river
Asia
Taz Estuary
112,000
43,000
Awash River
Primary river
Africa
Lake Abbe (endorheic)
110,000
42,000
Pranhita River
Tributary river
Asia
Godavari River
109,078
42,115
Flinders River
Primary river
Australia
Gulf of Carpentaria
109,000
42,000
Moose River (Ontario)
Primary river
North America
Hudson Bay
108,500
41,900
[ 7]
Hayes River
Primary river
North America
Hudson Bay
108,000
42,000
[ 7]
Anyuy River (Sakha)
Tributary river
Asia
Kolyma River
107,000
41,000
Bermejo River
Tributary river
South America
Paraguay River
106,924
41,284
[ 60]
Cunene River
Primary river
Africa
Atlantic Ocean
106,560
41,140
Back River
Primary river
North America
Arctic Ocean
106,500
41,100
[ 7]
Save River
Primary river
Africa
Indian Ocean
106,420
41,090
Tennessee River
Tributary river
North America
Ohio River
105,868
40,876
Aras River
Tributary river
Asia
Kura River
104,785
40,458
Bahr Aouk River
Tributary river
Africa
Chari River
103,577
39,991
[ 62]
Wabash River
Tributary river
North America
Ohio River
103,500
40,000
Colorado River (Texas)
Primary river
North America
Gulf of Mexico
103,300
39,900
Severn River (northern Ontario)
Primary river
North America
Hudson Bay
102,800
39,700
[ 7]
Chindwin River
Tributary river
Asia
Irrawaddy River
102,783
39,685
[ 63]
Napo River
Tributary river
South America
Amazon River
102,190
39,460
[ 64]
Río Negro (Argentina)
Primary river
South America
Atlantic Ocean
102,000
39,000
Logone River
Tributary river
Africa
Chari River
101,481
39,182
[ 65]
Anabar River
Primary river
Asia
Arctic Ocean
100,000
39,000
Barito River (Borneo)
Primary river
Asia
Java Sea
100,000
39,000
Kheta River
Tributary river
Asia
Khatanga River
100,000
39,000
Markha River
Tributary river
Asia
Vilyuy River
99,900
38,600
Donets
Tributary river
Europe
Don River
98,900
38,200
Narmada River
Primary river
Asia
Arabian Sea
98,800
38,100
Kapuas River (Borneo)
Primary river
Asia
South China Sea
98,749
38,127
Rhône
Primary river
Europe
Mediterranean Sea
98,556
38,053
Bandama River
Primary river
Africa
Atlantic Ocean
98,500
38,000
Northern Sosva River
Tributary river
Asia
Ob River
98,300
38,000
Neman River
Primary river
Europe
Baltic Sea
97,864
37,786
La Grande River
Primary river
North America
James Bay
97,600
37,700
Douro / Duero
Primary river
Europe
Atlantic Ocean
97,502
37,646
Xiang River
Tributary river
Asia
Lake Dongting
96,400
37,200
Onon River
Tributary river
Asia
Shilka River
96,200
37,100
Sava River
Tributary river
Europe
Danube
95,419
36,841
Athabasca River
Tributary river
North America
Lake Athabasca
95,300
36,800
Brahmani River
Primary river
Asia
Indian Ocean
39,033
15,071
Penobscot River
Primary river
North America
Atlantic Ocean
22,200
8,600
[ 66]
^ a b c d e f g h i This is an approximate value based on geospatial data from the USGS .[1] Approximate values for the area of Greenland and Antarctica were added to this data.
^ The value listed here assumes that the entire continent drains to the ocean, such as through the many ice streams , outlet glaciers , and seasonal glacial streams along the coast. However, there are many small endorheic lakes, for example in the McMurdo Dry Valleys .
^ a b c d e f g Note that the connection between a mediterranean sea (or a large estuary ) and its parent ocean usually involves simultaneous inflow and outflow in the lower and upper water layers of the connecting channel. Depending on the salinity of the sea, the upper layer may either flow into or out from the ocean; the bottom layer will flow the opposite direction.
^ Estimates for the Yellow River basin range from ca. 752,000 km2 (Chinese, English, French, German etc. wikipedia articles, none sourced) to 944,970 km2.[ 4]
^ Estimates for the Dnieper basin range from 504,000 km2 (most wikipedia pages) to 533,966 km2[ 4]
^ Excluding the Shebelle tributary river basin.
^ The Great Basin is a set of endorheic drainage basins, the largest being the 35,910 km2 (13,860 sq mi) basin that drains into the Great Salt Lake .
^ Official estimates for the Don basin range from 422,000 km2[ 25] to 458,694 km2.[ 4]
^ Estimates for the Colorado basin range from 294,076 km2[ 27] to 403,005 km2.[ 4]
^ 365,000 km2 is almost always quoted, though the area is only ca 351,000 km2 according to River Networks. Estimates as low as 297,211 km2[ 4] may perhaps exclude the Rio Negro tributary basin.
^ Estimates range from 322,887 km2,[ 4] and 331,565 km2[ 27] to 344,112 km2[ 32]
^ Rivers Network calculated an area of 266,354 km2.[ 35] Often-mentioned areas of ca 324,000 km2 are clearly too high.
^ Combined drainage area of Kherlen River (103709 km2) & Orxon Rivers (56626 km2) [2] . "In years with high precipitation, the normally exit−less endorheic lake may overflow at its northern shore."
^ Very rough estimate. Upper river's drainage area, including the Tekezé river is 120,430 km2 [3] , lower drainage area is probably not as much as 69,572 km2 [4] , as that includes much surrounding dessert.
^ "Background" . Archived from the original on 15 July 2007.
^ a b "Largest Drainage Basins In The World" . WorldAtlas . 17 May 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2021 .
^ a b c García-García, D. (2022). "Hydrological cycle of the Mediterranean-Black Sea system" . Climate Dynamics . 59 (7–8): 1919–1938. Bibcode :2022ClDy...59.1919G . doi :10.1007/s00382-022-06188-2 . hdl :10045/121760 . S2CID 238770852 . In the continents, the drainage basins discharging into the Mediterranean and Black seas are defined according to the global continental runoff pathways scheme (Oki and Sud 1998), and they cover 5.34 × 106 and 2.43 × 106 km2 , respectively
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar "Watersheds of the World 2005" (PDF) . Water Resources eAtlas. Retrieved 14 September 2017 .
^ Raúl A. Guerrero; et al. (June 1997). "Physical oceanography of the Río de la Plata Estuary, Argentina". Continental Shelf Research . 17 (7): 727–742. Bibcode :1997CSR....17..727G . doi :10.1016/S0278-4343(96)00061-1 .
^ Arnold, Guy (2000). World strategic highways . Taylor & Francis. p. 223. ISBN 978-1-57958-098-8 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "Rivers" . The Atlas of Canada . Natural Resources Canada. Archived from the original on 2 February 2007. Retrieved 15 May 2011 .
^ a b c d e The Zambezi River Basin , page 6.
^ "Map of the Lake Eyre basin" . Environment.gov.au. 18 February 2011. Archived from the original on 20 February 2009. Retrieved 10 April 2011 .
^ a b "Canada Drainage Basins" . The National Atlas of Canada , 5th edition . Natural Resources Canada . 1985. Retrieved 24 November 2010 .
^ "Freshwater Ecoregions of the World" . feow.org. Archived from the original on 18 October 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2016 .
^ "LakeNet - Lakes" . worldlakes.org. Retrieved 15 June 2016 .
^ Tigris Euphrates basin area at Rivers Network
^ "Encyclopædia Britannica" . Britannica.com. Retrieved 10 April 2011 .
^ Huang He Delta watershed at Rivers Network.
^ "Hydropolitics in the Horn of Africa" . somwe.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016 .
^ Ashton, Peter; Neal, Marian (2003). "An Overview of Key Strategic Issues in the Okavango Basin" . Transboundary Rivers, Sovereignty and Development: Hydropolitical Drivers in the Okavango River Basin . African Water Issues Research Unit. pp. 31–63. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.468.8632 . ISBN 0-620-30497-9 .
^ a b c d e Madeira river basin at Rivers Network.
^ Amur river basin at Rivers Network
^ Lower, Middle and Upper Euphrates river basin at Rivers Network
^ Dnieper river : Watersheds map at Rivers Network.
^ "Boundary Descriptions and Names of Regions, Subregions, Accounting Units and Cataloging Units" . USGS.gov. Retrieved 21 December 2010 .
^ a b c Tapajos basin at Rivers Network.
^ Don River watershed at Rivers Network.
^ Don River at the State water register of the Russian Federation
^ Colorado watershed at Rivers Network.
^ a b River Ecosystem Ecology: A Global Perspective , Gene E. Likens, Academic Press, 29 March 2010, page 359
^ a b "Restoration and Sustainable Use of the Shared Sistan Basin" (PDF) . United Nations Development Programme. February 2005. Retrieved 18 March 2016 .
^ Maraõn basin at River Networks
^ Rio Purus basin at Rivers Network
^ Parnaiba Basin at Rivers Network.
^ Ramos, Ramos, & Ramos (2014). Ichthyofauna of the Parnaíba river Basin, Northeastern Brazil. Biota Neotrop. 14(1).
^ Goodavari River watersheds map at Rivers Network.
^ Baker Basin at UNH /Global Runoff Data Centre
^ Upper Salween at Rivers Network.
^ Xi-jun Lai; Zi-ming Wang (October 2017). "Flood management of Dongting Lake after operation of Three Gorges Dam". Water Science and Engineering . 10 (4).
^ Amur river basin at Rivers Network.
^ Sangha Basin at Rivers Network.
^ Lower, Middle and Upper Tigris river basin at Rivers Network
^ Rufiji river basin at Rivers Network.
^ Hadedja - Jama'are - Komadugu Basin at Rivers Network
^ Chenab river basin at Rivers Network.
^ Red River Basin page at redriverprogram.com
^ "Cuvelai River-Etosha Pan Basin - AquaPedia Case Study Database" . aquapedia.waterdiplomacy.org. Retrieved 15 June 2016 .
^ Li, Xin (2018). "Hydrological Cycle in the Heihe River Basin and Its Implication for Water Resource Management in Endorheic Basins". Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres . 123 (2): 890–914. Bibcode :2018JGRD..123..890L . doi :10.1002/2017JD027889 . S2CID 133846912 .
^ Sankuru basin at Rivers Network.
^ Niger watershed maps at river networks. The often quoted 101,600 km2 is the basin upstream of Douna .
^ Canedo, Claudia; Pillco Zolá, Ramiro; Berndtsson, Ronny (12 April 2016). "Role of Hydrological Studies for the Development of the TDPS System" . Water . 8 (4): 144. doi :10.3390/w8040144 .
^ Rio Xingu watershed map at Rivers Network.
^ "Archived copy" (PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2016 .{{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link )
^ Guaviare river basin at Rivers Network
^ Apure river basin at Rivers Network
^ Lukenie Basin at Rivers Network.
^ Uele Basin at Rivers Network.
^ Ucayali river basin at Rivers Network
^ Mar Chiquita Watershed at riversnetwork.org
^ Lower Amazon watershed at Rivers Network
^ Aruwimi Basin at Rivers Network.
^ Lomami Basin at Rivers Network.
^ a b Rio Paraguay watersheds map at Rivers Network.
^ Sutlej river basin at Rivers Network.
^ "Chari - Golongosso" . www.grdc.sr.unh.edu .
^ "Chindwin river : Watershed map" .
^ "rio Napo : Watersheds map" .
^ Chari-Logone rivers watershed mapes at rivers networks.
^ "Penobscot River Watershed" . NOAA .