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List of drainage basins by area

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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.

Basins

[edit]
Continent color key
Africa Asia Asia/Europe Europe North America Australia South America Antarctica
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]
Pibor River Tributary river Africa Sobat River 137,130 52,950 [52]
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 [53]
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 [54]
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 [55]
Tambo-Ene-Apurímac River Tributary river South America Ucayali River 131,460 50,760 [56]
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 [57]
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 [58]
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 [59]
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 [60]
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 [61]
Sutlej River Tributary river Asia Indus River 114,343 44,148 [62]
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 [61]
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 [63]
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 [64]
Napo River Tributary river South America Amazon River 102,190 39,460 [65]
Río Negro (Argentina) Primary river South America Atlantic Ocean 102,000 39,000
Logone River Tributary river Africa Chari River 101,481 39,182 [66]
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

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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]
  5. ^ Estimates for the Dnieper basin range from 504,000 km2 (most wikipedia pages) to 533,966 km2[4]
  6. ^ Excluding the Shebelle tributary river basin.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Official estimates for the Don basin range from 422,000 km2[25] to 458,694 km2.[4]
  9. ^ Estimates for the Colorado basin range from 294,076 km2[27] to 403,005 km2.[4]
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Estimates range from 322,887 km2,[4] and 331,565 km2[27] to 344,112 km2[32]
  12. ^ Rivers Network calculated an area of 266,354 km2.[35] Often-mentioned areas of ca 324,000 km2 are clearly too high.
  13. ^ 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."
  14. ^ 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.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Background". Archived from the original on 15 July 2007.
  2. ^ a b "Largest Drainage Basins In The World". WorldAtlas. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Arnold, Guy (2000). World strategic highways. Taylor & Francis. p. 223. ISBN 978-1-57958-098-8.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ a b c d e The Zambezi River Basin, page 6.
  9. ^ "Map of the Lake Eyre basin". Environment.gov.au. 18 February 2011. Archived from the original on 20 February 2009. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  10. ^ a b "Canada Drainage Basins". The National Atlas of Canada, 5th edition. Natural Resources Canada. 1985. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  11. ^ "Freshwater Ecoregions of the World". feow.org. Archived from the original on 18 October 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  12. ^ "LakeNet - Lakes". worldlakes.org. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  13. ^ Tigris Euphrates basin area at Rivers Network
  14. ^ "Encyclopædia Britannica". Britannica.com. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  15. ^ Huang He Delta watershed at Rivers Network.
  16. ^ "Hydropolitics in the Horn of Africa". somwe.com. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ a b c d e Madeira river basin at Rivers Network.
  19. ^ Amur river basin at Rivers Network
  20. ^ Lower, Middle and Upper Euphrates river basin at Rivers Network
  21. ^ Dnieper river : Watersheds map at Rivers Network.
  22. ^ "Boundary Descriptions and Names of Regions, Subregions, Accounting Units and Cataloging Units". USGS.gov. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  23. ^ a b c Tapajos basin at Rivers Network.
  24. ^ Don River watershed at Rivers Network.
  25. ^ Don River at the State water register of the Russian Federation
  26. ^ Colorado watershed at Rivers Network.
  27. ^ a b River Ecosystem Ecology: A Global Perspective, Gene E. Likens, Academic Press, 29 March 2010, page 359
  28. ^ a b "Restoration and Sustainable Use of the Shared Sistan Basin" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. February 2005. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  29. ^ Maraõn basin at River Networks
  30. ^ Rio Purus basin at Rivers Network
  31. ^ Parnaiba Basin at Rivers Network.
  32. ^ Ramos, Ramos, & Ramos (2014). Ichthyofauna of the Parnaíba river Basin, Northeastern Brazil. Biota Neotrop. 14(1).
  33. ^ Goodavari River watersheds map at Rivers Network.
  34. ^ Baker Basin at UNH/Global Runoff Data Centre
  35. ^ Upper Salween at Rivers Network.
  36. ^ 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): 303. Bibcode:2017WSEng..10..303L. doi:10.1016/j.wse.2017.12.005.
  37. ^ Amur river basin at Rivers Network.
  38. ^ Sangha Basin at Rivers Network.
  39. ^ Lower, Middle and Upper Tigris river basin at Rivers Network
  40. ^ Rufiji river basin at Rivers Network.
  41. ^ Hadedja - Jama'are - Komadugu Basin at Rivers Network
  42. ^ Chenab river basin at Rivers Network.
  43. ^ Red River Basin page at redriverprogram.com
  44. ^ "Cuvelai River-Etosha Pan Basin - AquaPedia Case Study Database". aquapedia.waterdiplomacy.org. Retrieved 15 June 2016.
  45. ^ 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.
  46. ^ Sankuru basin at Rivers Network.
  47. ^ Niger watershed maps at river networks. The often quoted 101,600 km2 is the basin upstream of Douna.
  48. ^ 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.
  49. ^ Rio Xingu watershed map at Rivers Network.
  50. ^ "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)
  51. ^ Guaviare river basin at Rivers Network
  52. ^ Lehner, Bernhard; Verdin, Kristine; Jarvis, Andy (4 March 2008). "New Global Hydrography Derived From Spaceborne Elevation Data". Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union. 89 (10): 93–94. doi:10.1029/2008eo100001. ISSN 0096-3941.
  53. ^ Apure river basin at Rivers Network
  54. ^ Lukenie Basin at Rivers Network.
  55. ^ Uele Basin at Rivers Network.
  56. ^ Ucayali river basin at Rivers Network
  57. ^ Mar Chiquita Watershed at riversnetwork.org
  58. ^ Lower Amazon watershed at Rivers Network
  59. ^ Aruwimi Basin at Rivers Network.
  60. ^ Lomami Basin at Rivers Network.
  61. ^ a b Rio Paraguay watersheds map at Rivers Network.
  62. ^ Sutlej river basin at Rivers Network.
  63. ^ "Chari - Golongosso". www.grdc.sr.unh.edu.
  64. ^ "Chindwin river : Watershed map".
  65. ^ "rio Napo : Watersheds map".
  66. ^ Chari-Logone rivers watershed mapes at rivers networks.
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