US Rivers: A Brief Description of the Largest Watercourses

The United States is a country that is very rich in fresh water. The large rivers of the USA bring a lot of benefit to the state, since they are navigable almost everywhere. The most famous reservoirs are the Great Lakes. They include several large lakes, which are connected by straits, as well as by small water streams. The most significant and largest rivers are the Missouri, Colorado, Mississippi, and Columbia.

usa river

United States of America

One of the most influential powers in the world is America. It also surpasses many states in size and population.

The USA takes the fourth place in its area (9630 thousand km 2 ). It borders with Canada and Mexico.

Due to the large extent of the state, its relief is quite diverse. Here you can find both lowlands and mountain ranges. Each state has its own climatic features: both Arctic frosts and tropical heat will not be uncommon. The United States is conditionally divided into 4 time zones.

The population is divided into social classes, which differ in living standards, education, and income. Due to large-scale immigration, representatives of almost all races and nations live in the States. The state language is not accepted here, but the most common is English.

The United States is divided into 4 regions, and the state is also divided into the so-called belts - areas that have similar living conditions, religion, traditions, etc.

large rivers of the usa

US rivers

One can talk about the nature of the United States of America for a very long time, but one cannot but mention the water flows.

Susquehanna flows in New York. Its water is very clean, which allows it to be used as drinking water. However, coal mining can very much poison water flow, which is why the government is developing a plan by which pollution will be minimized.

Almost all rivers located in the United States, very often influenced by industry. For example, in the Gulf of Bristol, watercourses constantly, for many years, suffer from mining.

Roanoke, a river in Virginia, like Susquehanna, has clear waters. In addition, a uranium mine is located in it , mining from which can lead to terrible consequences.

Illinois has a Chicago watercourse that is heavily polluted by sewage. It saves other US rivers from dirt, as it is the only shelter for waste.

Salmon and salmon can be found in Yuba. It has a hydroelectric power station. Also, numerous dams were built on it, which became an obstacle to the migration of fish. Moreover, if you do not build passages for aquatic animals, then salmon may be in danger of extinction.

big rivers usa

Mississippi - US Main River

The greatest water flow of both America and the world is the Mississippi. It is fully located in the United States, but its pool spans a small area of โ€‹โ€‹Canada. It originates in Nicolette Creek, flows into the Gulf of Mexico.

Mississippi is the longest river in the USA. Its length is more than 3500 km. Also, due to its area, almost all states of the state enter its basin. Basically, the river has a southern course.

long river usa

Missouri - a tributary of the Mississippi River

The Missouri River is considered the largest water stream in North America and a tributary of the river. Mississippi. The source is in the Rocky Mountains, which completely affects its characteristic course. It is worth noting that other major US rivers originate in this place. The length of Missouri is 3,767 km. Thanks to this watercourse, migrants moved west in the 19th century, thereby expanding the borders of the United States.

The peak of shipping development occurred in the 30s of the twentieth century. Over the course of 20 years, many dams and other structures were built, however, at present, one can observe a certain decline in the development of the river.

main river usa

The main waterway of the country

Columbia is a leader in the US Major Rivers list. It is located in North America and flows not only through the States, but also through Canada. Its length is 2 thousand km.

It feeds on glacial waters. Due to the mountainous nature of the current and the large volume of water, it creates ideal conditions for the operation of hydroelectric power plants. In total, there are 14 hydroelectric power stations on the water stream.

Navigation on the river developed quite difficult, since it had many shallows and rapids. However, in the twentieth century, the construction of numerous dams helped to fill the channel with sufficient water. It is this factor that made it possible to make a significant breakthrough in this area.

Columbia River

Colorado - deep sea river

In the southwestern United States, the Colorado River flows. Its length is 2334 km. It falls into the Gulf of California. Almost the entire basin of the water flow is located in the United States, it is more than 600 thousand km 2 . Colorado is widely used both in agriculture and for other household needs of the population. Previously, about 50 species of fish were found in the river. However, work on changing the course led to a decrease in their population. It is worth noting that 4 species are almost completely at the extinction stage.

Colorado has a turbulent nature of the current, which attracts a large number of tourists. On its shores there are many national parks and forests where you can have a good time and have a good rest.

colorado river

The United States Large Rivers rating is, of course, topped by the Mississippi. Now, due to human activities, the state of the water flow is deteriorating, however, the government still holds a number of special measures that are slowly improving the environment.


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