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Rivers

River - a natural stream of water of usually considerable volume

Some river lengths in the United States are:

Missouri River - 2,540 miles

Mississippi River - 2,340 miles

Yukon River - 1,980 miles

Rio Grande River - 1,900 miles

St. Lawrence River - 1,900 miles

Arkansas River - 1,460 miles

Colorado River - 1,450 miles

Atchafalaya River - 1,420 miles

Ohio River - 1,310 miles

Red River - 1,290 miles

Brazos River - 1,280 miles

Columbia River - 1,240 miles

Snake River - 1,040 miles

Platte River - 990 miles

Pecos River - 926 miles

Canadian River - 906 miles

Tennessee River - 886 miles

Colorado (Texas) River - 862 miles

North Canadian River - 800 miles

Mobile River - 774 miles

Kansas River - 743 miles

Kuskokwim River - 724 miles

Yellowstone River - 692 miles

Tanana River - 659 miles

Milk River - 625 miles

Source - United States Geological Survey Fact Sheet OFR 87-242 rev. 1990

The United States an estimated 3,500,000 miles of rivers.

Hydrologic Regions

The United States is divided into hydrologic units which includes 21 major geographic areas, or regions.  These are the major river drainage basins in the United States.  These geographic areas contain either the drainage area of a major river, such as the Missouri region, or the combined drainage areas of a series of rivers, such as the Texas-Gulf region, which includes a number of rivers draining into the Gulf of Mexico. Eighteen of the regions occupy the land area of the conterminous United States. Alaska is region 19, the Hawaii Islands constitute region 20, and Puerto Rico and other outlying Caribbean areas are region 21.

USGS River Basin Descriptions

I have found the following information about rivers in the United States to be interesting. Many of these facts come from www.brita.com and  http://www.nps.gov/rivers/waterfacts.html.

• The United States has 3,500,000 miles of rivers.
• The 8 longest rivers in the U.S. are (in descending order) Missouri, Mississippi, Yukon, St. Lawrence (if you count the Great Lakes and its headwaters as one system), Rio Grande, Arkansas, Colorado, Ohio.
• The Missouri River is about 2,540 miles long, making it the longest river in North America.
• The United States consumes water at twice the rate of other industrialized nations.
• Eighty percent of the fresh water we use in the U.S. is for irrigating crops and generating thermoelectric-power.

Water use is increasing, just like oil use. In fact it is thought that water might be "the next oil." We in the United States treat water just like we treat oil, according to many water experts. The way to help solve many of our water problems, just like many of our energy problems, is for the public to raise their level of awareness.

Understanding Water Rights and Conflicts, Second Edition is a book designed to help with that effort. Start being part of the solution!! Order this informative book today.

325 pages, softcover
$19.95

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