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 the hypothetical flow of water (or ice), and thus nutrients or pollutants, 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

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 OceanOceanMultiplen/a69,800,000 26,900,000[Note 1] [2]
Arctic OceanOceanMultiplen/a23,100,000 8,900,000[Note 1]
Pacific OceanOceanMultiplen/a20,300,000 7,800,000[Note 1] [2]
Indian OceanOceanMultiplen/a19,400,000 7,500,000[Note 1]
Southern OceanOceanAntarctican/a14,000,000 5,400,000[Note 1][Note 2]
Mediterranean-Black Sea systemMediterranean seaMultipleAtlantic Ocean [Note 3]7,770,000 3,000,000[3]
Amazon RiverPrimary riverSouth AmericaAtlantic Ocean6,200,000 2,400,000 [4]
Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean SeaMediterranean seaMultipleAtlantic Ocean [Note 3]6,200,000 2,400,000[Note 1]
Mediterranean SeaMediterranean seaMultipleAtlantic Ocean [Note 3]5,340,000 2,060,000[3]
Hudson Bay drainage basinMediterranean seaNorth AmericaAtlantic Ocean3,861,400 1,490,900
Congo RiverPrimary riverAfricaAtlantic Ocean3,730,881 1,440,501[4]
Caspian SeaLakeAsia/Europen/a (endorheic basin)3,626,000 1,400,000
Nile RiverPrimary riverAfricaMediterranean Sea3,254,853 1,256,706[4]
Mississippi-Missouri RiverPrimary riverNorth AmericaGulf of Mexico3,202,185 1,236,371[4]
Bay of BengalBayAsiaIndian Ocean3,200,000 1,200,000
Río de la PlataEstuarySouth AmericaAtlantic Ocean3,170,000 1,220,000[5]
Ob RiverPrimary riverAsiaArctic Ocean2,982,493 1,151,547[4]
Paraná RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaRío de la Plata2,582,704 997,188[4]
Yenisei RiverPrimary riverAsiaArctic Ocean2,554,388 986,255[4]
Chad BasinEndorheic basinAfrican/a (endorheic basin)2,497,738 964,382[4]
Lena RiverPrimary riverAsiaArctic Ocean2,306,743 890,638[4]
Black SeaMediterranean seaAsia/EuropeMediterranean Sea [Note 3]2,430,000 940,000[3]
Niger RiverPrimary riverAfricaAtlantic Ocean2,261,741 873,263[4]
GangesBrahmaputraPrimary riverAsiaBay of Bengal1,999,000 772,000 [6]
Amur RiverPrimary riverAsiaPacific Ocean1,929,955 745,160[4]
Mackenzie RiverPrimary riverNorth AmericaBeaufort Sea1,805,200 697,000[7]
Yangtze River (Chang Jiang)Primary riverAsiaPacific Ocean1,722,193 664,942[4]
Baltic SeaMediterranean seaEuropeAtlantic Ocean [Note 3]1,700,000 660,000[Note 1]
Irtysh RiverTributary riverAsiaOb River1,673,470 646,130
Aral SeaLakeAsian/a (endorheic basin)1,618,750 625,000
Madeira RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaAmazon River1,485,218 573,446
Volga RiverPrimary riverEuropeCaspian Sea1,410,951 544,771[4]
Persian GulfMediterranean seaAsiaIndian Ocean [Note 3]1,400,000 540,000[Note 1]
St. Lawrence EstuaryEstuaryNorth AmericaGulf of Saint Lawrence1,344,200 519,000[4][7]
Zambezi RiverPrimary riverAfricaIndian Ocean1,332,574 514,510[8]
Missouri RiverTributary riverNorth AmericaMississippi River1,331,810 514,210
Lake Eyre BasinLakeAustralian/a (endorheic basin)1,210,000 470,000[9]
Ganges RiverPrimary riverAsiaBay of Bengal 1,200,000 463,322 [4]
Paraguay RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaParaná River1,095,000 423,000
Indus RiverPrimary riverAsiaArabian Sea1,081,718 417,654[4]
Nelson RiverPrimary riverNorth AmericaHudson Bay1,072,300 414,000[10]
Murray-Darling basinPrimary riverAustraliaSouthern Ocean1,050,116 405,452[4]
St. Lawrence RiverPrimary riverNorth AmericaAtlantic Ocean1,049,636 405,267[4]
Angara RiverTributary riverAsiaYenisei River1,039,000 401,000[11]
Lake Chad (New Conventional Basin)LakeAfrican/a (endorheic basin)1,035,000 400,000[12]
Lake WinnipegLakeNorth AmericaNelson River982,900 379,500[10]
Great Slave LakeLakeNorth AmericaMackenzie River976,200 376,900
Orinoco RiverPrimary riverSouth AmericaAtlantic Ocean953,675 368,216[4]
Orange RiverPrimary riverAfricaAtlantic Ocean941,351 363,458[4]
Kasai RiverTributary riverAfricaCongo River925,172 357,211
Shatt al-Arab (Tigris, Euphrates & Karun)Primary riverAsiaPersian Gulf916,200 353,700[13]
Tarim BasinEndorheic basinAsian/a (endorheic basin)906,500 350,000[14]
North SeaMediterranean seaEuropeAtlantic Ocean850,000 330,000
Yukon RiverPrimary riverNorth AmericaBering Sea839,200 324,000[7]
Yellow RiverPrimary riverAsiaPacific Ocean832,238 321,329[15][Note 4]
Mekong RiverPrimary riverAsiaPacific Ocean805,604 311,045[4]
Jubba-Shebelle basinPrimary riverAfricaIndian Ocean805,100 310,900[16]
Great LakesLakeNorth AmericaSt. Lawrence River800,114 308,926
Danube RiverPrimary riverEuropeBlack Sea795,656 307,204[4]
Syr DaryaPrimary riverAsiaAral Sea782,617 302,170[4]
Tocantins RiverPrimary riverSouth AmericaAtlantic Ocean764,213 295,064[4]
Ubangi RiverTributary riverAfricaCongo River754,830 291,440
Aldan RiverTributary riverAsiaLena River729,000 281,000
Kalahari Basin/Okavango BasinEndorheic basinAfrican/a (endorheic basin)721,258 278,479[4][17]
Rio NegroTributary riverSouth AmericaAmazon River720,114 278,038
Kolyma RiverPrimary riverAsiaArctic Ocean679,934 262,524[4]
Columbia RiverPrimary riverNorth AmericaPacific Ocean671,300 259,200[7]
Brahmaputra RiverTributary riverAsiaGanges River651,335 251,482 [4]
Colorado RiverPrimary riverNorth AmericaGulf of California637,137 246,000
Mamoré RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaMadeira River630,835 243,567[18]
Red SeaMediterranean seaAfrica/AsiaIndian Ocean [Note 3]620,000 240,000[Note 1]
São Francisco RiverPrimary riverSouth AmericaAtlantic Ocean617,812 238,539
Slave RiverTributary riverNorth AmericaGreat Slave Lake616,400 238,000[7]
Rio GrandePrimary riverNorth AmericaGulf of Mexico607,934 234,725[4]
Lake BaikalLakeAsiaAngara River571,000 220,000
Songhua RiverTributary riverAsiaAmur River554,575 214,123[19]
Chari RiverPrimary riverAfricaLake Chad548,747 211,872
Amu DaryaPrimary riverAsiaAral Sea534,739 206,464[4]
EuphratesTributary riverAsiaShatt al-Arab532,300 205,500[20]
Xingu RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaAmazon River520,292 200,886
Bahr el Ghazal RiverTributary riverAfricaNile520,000 200,000
Lake BalkhashLakeAsian/a (endorheic basin)512,015 197,690[4]
Dnieper RiverPrimary riverEuropeBlack Sea511,650 197,550[21] [Note 5]
Kama RiverTributary riverEuropeVolga River507,000 196,000
Jubba RiverPrimary riverAfricaIndian Ocean497,626 192,134[4] [Note 6]
Great BasinEndorheic basinNorth American/a (endorheic basin)492,000 190,000[22][Note 7]
Ohio RiverTributary riverNorth AmericaMississippi River490,603 189,423
Lower Tunguska RiverTributary riverAsiaYenisei river473,000 183,000
Vilyuy RiverTributary riverAsiaLena River454,000 175,000
Pearl RiverPrimary riverAsiaPacific Ocean453,700 175,200
Tapajós RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaAmazon River453,510 175,100[23]
Selenga RiverTributary riverAsiaLake Baikal445,245 171,910
Don RiverPrimary riverEuropeBlack Sea443,729 171,325[24] [Note 8]
Arkansas RiverTributary riverNorth AmericaMississippi River435,122 168,002
Tobol RiverTributary riverAsiaIrtysh River426,000 164,000
Limpopo RiverPrimary riverAfricaIndian Ocean421,123 162,596[4]
Senegal RiverPrimary riverAfricaAtlantic Ocean419,575 161,999[4]
Irrawaddy RiverPrimary riverAsiaIndian Ocean413,710 159,730[4]
Volta RiverPrimary riverAfricaAtlantic Ocean407,093 157,179[4]
Colorado River (Argentina)Primary riverSouth AmericaAtlantic Ocean373,863 144,349[26] [Note 9]
Sistan BasinEndorheic basinAsian/a (endorheic basin)370,000 140,000[28]
Molopo RiverTributary riverAfricaOrange River367,201 141,777
YamunaTributary riverAsiaGanges366,223 141,399
Uruguay RiverPrimary riverSouth AmericaRío de la Plata365,000 141,000[Note 10]
Khatanga RiverPrimary riverAsiaArctic Ocean364,000 141,000
Marañón RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaAmazon River363,286 140,266[29]
Guaporé RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaMamoré River360,534 139,203[18]
Indigirka RiverPrimary riverAsiaArctic Ocean360,400 139,200
Araguaia RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaTocantins River358,125 138,273
Northern DvinaPrimary riverEuropeWhite Sea357,075 137,867[4]
Xi RiverTributary riverAsiaPearl River353,100 136,300
Purus RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaAmazon River352,085 135,941[30]
Ucayali RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaAmazon River337,519 130,317
Shebelle RiverTributary riverAfricaJubba River336,627 129,972
Saskatchewan RiverTributary riverNorth AmericaLake Winnipeg335,900 129,700[7]
Benue RiverTributary riverAfricaNiger River335,035 129,358
Parnaíba RiverPrimary riverSouth AmericaAtlantic Ocean331,643 128,048[31] [Note 11]
Blue NileTributary riverAfricaNile325,000 125,000
Pechora RiverPrimary riverEuropeArctic Ocean322,000 124,000
Hai RiverPrimary riverAsiaPacific Ocean318,200 122,900
Godavari RiverPrimary riverAsiaIndian Ocean314,829 121,556[33]
Peace RiverTributary riverNorth AmericaSlave River306,000 118,000
Panjnad River (Chenab & Sutlej)Tributary riverAsiaIndus River300,000 120,000
Baker Lake/Chesterfield InletLake / estuaryNorth AmericaHudson Bay299,000 115,000[34]
Red River of the NorthTributary riverNorth AmericaLake Winnipeg287,500 111,000[7]
Churchill River (Hudson Bay)Primary riverNorth AmericaHudson Bay281,300 108,600[7]
Neva RiverPrimary riverEuropeBaltic Sea281,000 108,000
Taz EstuaryEstuaryAsiaArctic Ocean262,000 101,000
Snake RiverTributary riverNorth AmericaColumbia River278,450 107,510
Liard RiverTributary riverNorth AmericaMackenzie River277,100 107,000[7]
Lake Athabasca-Rivière des RochersLakeNorth AmericaSlave River274,540 106,000
Salween RiverPrimary riverAsiaIndian Ocean271,888 104,977[4][Note 12]
Lukuga RiverTributary riverAfricaCongo River270,900 104,600
Luvua RiverTributary riverAfricaCongo River265,300 102,400
Kwango RiverTributary riverAfricaKasai River263,400 101,700
Desaguadero RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaColorado River or Endorheic260,000 100,000
Mapimí-Salado basinEndorheic basinNorth American/a (endorheic basin)260,000 100,000
Krishna RiverPrimary riverAsiaIndian Ocean258,948 99,980
Magdalena RiverPrimary riverSouth AmericaAtlantic Ocean257,438 99,397
Dongting LakeLakeAsiaYangtze River257,000 99,000[36]
Japurá/Caquetá RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaAmazon River255,700 98,700
Nen RiverTributary riverAsiaSonghua River252,100 97,300[37]
Oka RiverTributary riverEuropeVolga245,000 95,000
Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt deltaPrimary riverEuropeNorth Sea240,000 93,000
Stony Tunguska RiverTributary riverAsiaYenisei river240,000 93,000
Beni RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaMadeira River239,825 92,597[18]
Lake VictoriaLakeAfricaNile River238,900 92,200
Yana RiverPrimary riverAsiaArctic Ocean238,000 92,000
Lake TanganyikaLakeAfricaLukuga River236,300 91,200
Sangha RiverTributary riverAfricaCongo River233,740 90,250[38]
Fraser RiverPrimary riverNorth AmericaPacific Ocean233,100 90,000[7]
Zeya RiverTributary riverAsiaAmur River233,000 90,000
Liao RiverPrimary riverAsiaPacific Ocean232,200 89,700
Ural RiverPrimary riverAsia/EuropeCaspian Sea231,000 89,000
Juruá RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaAmazon River225,828 87,193
Sobat RiverTributary riverAfricaNile River225,000 87,000
Vitim RiverTributary riverAsiaLena River225,000 87,000
Ogooué RiverPrimary riverAfricaAtlantic Ocean223,856 86,431
Tigris RiverTributary riverAsiaShatt al-Arab221,400 85,500[39]
Platte RiverTributary riverNorth AmericaMissouri River219,916 84,910
Olenyok RiverPrimary riverAsiaArctic Ocean219,000 85,000
Olyokma RiverTributary riverAsiaLena River210,000 81,000
Shilka RiverTributary riverAsiaAmur River206,000 80,000
Rufiji RiverPrimary riverAfricaIndian Ocean204,450 78,940[40]
Kura RiverPrimary riverAsiaCaspian Sea198,300 76,600
Vaal RiverTributary riverAfricaOrange River196,438 75,845
VistulaPrimary riverEuropeBaltic Sea194,424 75,068
Ussuri RiverTributary riverAsiaAmur River193,000 75,000
Juruena RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaTapajos River191,030 73,760[23]
Anadyr RiverPrimary riverAsiaBering Sea191,000 74,000
Branco RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaRio Negro189,925 73,330
Ishim RiverTributary riverAsiaIrtysh River189,000 73,000
RhinePrimary riverEuropeNorth Sea185,300 71,500
Komadugu-Yobe RiverPrimary riverAfricaLake Chad183,009 70,660[41]
Assiniboine RiverTributary riverNorth AmericaRed River182,000 70,000[7]
Pyasina RiverPrimary riverAsiaPyasina Gulf182,000 70,000
Yellowstone RiverTributary riverNorth AmericaMissouri River181,000 70,000
Uyandina RiverTributary riverAsiaIndigirka River176,000 68,000
Kotuy RiverTributary riverAsiaKhatanga River176,000 68,000
Chenab RiverTributary riverAsiaPanjnad River176,000 68,000[42]
Han RiverTributary riverAsiaYangtze River174,300 67,300
Huai RiverTributary riverAsiaYangtze River174,000 67,000
Tshuapa/Ruki RiverTributary riverAfricaCongo River173,800 67,100
Maya RiverTributary riverAsiaAldan River171,000 66,000
Salado River (Buenos Aires)Primary riverSouth AmericaAtlantic Ocean170,000 66,000
Red River of the SouthTributary riverNorth AmericaMississippi River169,890 65,590
Red RiverPrimary riverAsiaGulf of Tonkin169,000 65,000[43]
Cuvelai River-Etosha BasinEndorheic basinAfrican/a (endorheic basin)166,649 64,344[44]
Chesapeake BayEstuaryNorth AmericaAtlantic Ocean166,534 64,299
Helmand RiverPrimary riverAsiaSistan Basin166,000 64,000[28]
Argun / Hailar RiverTributary riverAsiaAmur River164,000 63,000
Chao Phraya RiverPrimary riverAsiaGulf of Thailand160,400 61,900
Hulun LakeLakeAsiaAmur River / endorheic160,335 61,906[Note 13]
Jialing RiverTributary riverAsiaYangtze River160,000 62,000
Luangwa RiverTributary riverAfricaZambezi River159,615 61,628[8]
Tisza RiverTributary riverEuropeDanube157,186 60,690
Torgay/Turgai RiverPrimary riverAsian/a (endorheic basin)157,000 61,000
Mbomou RiverTributary riverAfricaUbangi River156,950 60,600
Great Bear RiverTributary riverNorth AmericaMackenzie River156,500 60,400
Kafue RiverTributary riverAfricaZambezi River155,805 60,157[8]
Kansas RiverTributary riverNorth AmericaMissouri River155,695 60,114
Ruvuma RiverPrimary riverAfricaIndian Ocean155,500 60,000
Essequibo RiverPrimary riverSouth AmericaAtlantic Ocean154,186 59,532
Sacramento–San Joaquin River DeltaPrimary riverNorth AmericaSan Francisco Bay153,000 59,000
Ruo ShuiPrimary riverAsiaEndorheic basin152,606 58,922[45]
Sankuru RiverTributary riverAfricaKasai River151,112 58,345[46]
Atbarah RiverTributary riverAfricaNile150,000 58,000[Note 14]
Taz RiverPrimary riverAsiaTaz Estuary150,000 58,000
Tietê RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaParaná River150,000 58,000
Cuanza RiverPrimary riverAfricaAtlantic Ocean149,688 57,795[4]
Shire River (Lake Malawi)Tributary riverAfricaZambezi River149,159 57,591[8]
ElbePrimary riverEuropeNorth Sea148,268 57,247
Putumayo RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaAmazon River148,000 57,000
Bani RiverTributary riverAfricaNiger River146,570 56,590[47]
Ottawa RiverTributary riverNorth AmericaSt. Lawrence River146,300 56,500[7]
South Saskatchewan RiverTributary riverNorth AmericaSaskatchewan River146,100 56,400[7]
Lake Titicaca-Desaguadero River-Lake Poopó SystemEndorheic basinSouth American/a (endorheic basin)144,590 55,830[48]
Chambal RiverTributary riverAsiaYamuna River143,219 55,297
Rio Grande (Paraná River)Tributary riverSouth AmericaParaná River143,000 55,000
Fitzroy River (Queensland)Primary riverAustraliaPacific Ocean142,665 55,083
Thelon RiverPrimary riverNorth AmericaBaker Lake142,400 55,000[7]
Belaya RiverTributary riverEuropeKama River142,000 55,000
Iriri RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaXingu River141,745 54,728[49]
Teles Pires RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaTapajos River141,620 54,680[23]
Mahanadi RiverPrimary riverAsiaIndian Ocean141,600 54,700
Ili RiverPrimary riverAsiaLake Balkhash140,000 54,000
Sanaga RiverPrimary riverAfricaAtlantic Ocean140,000 54,000[50]
Min River (Sichuan)Tributary riverAsiaYangtze River140,000 54,000
Guaviare RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaOrinoco River138,447 53,455[51]
Santiago-Lerma basinPrimary riverNorth AmericaPacific Ocean136,628 52,752
Apure RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaOrinoco River136,152 52,569[52]
Winnipeg RiverTributary riverNorth AmericaLake Winnipeg135,800 52,400[7]
Albany RiverPrimary riverNorth AmericaHudson Bay135,200 52,200[7]
Wei RiverTributary riverAsiaYellow River135,000 52,000
Grijalva-Usumacinta basinPrimary riverNorth AmericaGulf of Mexico134,400 51,900
Chulym RiverTributary riverAsiaOb River134,000 52,000
Lukenie RiverTributary riverAfricaCongo River133,432 51,518[53]
Koksoak RiverPrimary riverNorth AmericaUngava Bay133,400 51,500[7]
Orkhon RiverTributary riverAsiaSelenga River132,835 51,288
Uele RiverTributary riverAfricaUbangi River131,856 50,910[54]
Tambo-Ene-Apurímac RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaUcayali River131,460 50,760[55]
Lake TurkanaLakeAfrican/a (endorheic basin)130,860 50,530
Aripuanã RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaMadeira River130,340 50,320[18]
Malagarasi RiverTributary riverAfricaLake Tanganyika130,000 50,000
Mar ChiquitaEndorheic basinSouth American/a (endorheic basin)129,715 50,083[56]
Burdekin RiverPrimary riverAustraliaPacific Ocean129,700 50,100
Vyatka RiverTributary riverEuropeKama River129,000 50,000
Yalong RiverTributary riverAsiaYangtze River128,444 49,593
Taseyeva RiverTributary riverAsiaAngara River128,000 49,000
Ghaghara / Karnali RiverTributary riverAsiaGanges River127,950 49,400
Trombetas RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaAmazon River127,643 49,283[57]
Tana River (Kenya)Primary riverAfricaIndian Ocean126,026 48,659
Madre de Dios RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaBeni River125,287 48,374[18]
Green RiverTributary riverNorth AmericaColorado River124,578 48,100
Kuskokwim RiverPrimary riverNorth AmericaBering Sea124,319 48,000
Salado River (Argentina)Tributary riverSouth AmericaParaná River124,199 47,954
Taymyr RiverPrimary riverAsiaKara Sea124,000 48,000
Canadian RiverTributary riverNorth AmericaArkansas River123,221 47,576
Aruwimi RiverTributary riverAfricaCongo River122,853 47,434[58]
North Saskatchewan RiverTributary riverNorth AmericaSaskatchewan River122,800 47,400[7]
Prypiat RiverTributary riverEuropeDnieper121,840 47,040
Vychegda RiverTributary riverEuropeNorthern Dvina121,000 47,000
Mun RiverTributary riverAsiaMekong River119,180 46,020
OderPrimary riverEuropeBaltic Sea118,861 45,892
Porcupine RiverTributary riverNorth AmericaYukon River117,900 45,500[7]
LoirePrimary riverEuropeAtlantic Ocean117,000 45,000
Lomami RiverTributary riverAfricaCongo River116,209 44,869[59]
Brazos RiverPrimary riverNorth AmericaGulf of Mexico116,000 45,000
Awash BasinEndorheic basinAfrican/a (endorheic basin)116,000 45,000
Mobile RiverPrimary riverNorth AmericaGulf of Mexico115,000 44,000
Pecos RiverTributary riverNorth AmericaRio Grande115,000 44,000
Pilcomayo RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaParaguay River114,402 44,171[60]
Sutlej RiverTributary riverAsiaIndus River114,343 44,148[61]
Panj RiverTributary riverAsiaAmu Darya River114,000 44,000
Tanana RiverTributary riverNorth AmericaYukon River114,000 44,000
Kwando/Chobe RiverTributary riverAfricaZambezi River113,393 43,781[8]
Omolon RiverTributary riverAsiaKolyma River113,000 44,000
Uchur RiverTributary riverAsiaAldan River113,000 44,000
Balsas RiverPrimary riverNorth AmericaPacific Ocean112,320 43,370
Pur RiverPrimary riverAsiaTaz Estuary112,000 43,000
Awash RiverPrimary riverAfricaLake Abbe (endorheic)110,000 42,000
Pranhita RiverTributary riverAsiaGodavari River109,078 42,115
Flinders RiverPrimary riverAustraliaGulf of Carpentaria109,000 42,000
Moose River (Ontario)Primary riverNorth AmericaHudson Bay108,500 41,900[7]
Hayes RiverPrimary riverNorth AmericaHudson Bay108,000 42,000[7]
Anyuy River (Sakha)Tributary riverAsiaKolyma River107,000 41,000
Bermejo RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaParaguay River106,924 41,284[60]
Cunene RiverPrimary riverAfricaAtlantic Ocean106,560 41,140
Back RiverPrimary riverNorth AmericaArctic Ocean106,500 41,100[7]
Save RiverPrimary riverAfricaIndian Ocean106,420 41,090
Tennessee RiverTributary riverNorth AmericaOhio River105,868 40,876
Aras RiverTributary riverAsiaKura River104,785 40,458
Bahr Aouk RiverTributary riverAfricaChari River103,577 39,991[62]
Wabash RiverTributary riverNorth AmericaOhio River103,500 40,000
Colorado River (Texas)Primary riverNorth AmericaGulf of Mexico103,300 39,900
Severn River (northern Ontario)Primary riverNorth AmericaHudson Bay102,800 39,700[7]
Chindwin RiverTributary riverAsiaIrrawaddy River102,783 39,685[63]
Napo RiverTributary riverSouth AmericaAmazon River102,190 39,460[64]
Río Negro (Argentina)Primary riverSouth AmericaAtlantic Ocean102,000 39,000
Logone RiverTributary riverAfricaChari River101,481 39,182[65]
Anabar RiverPrimary riverAsiaArctic Ocean100,000 39,000
Barito River (Borneo)Primary riverAsiaJava Sea100,000 39,000
Kheta RiverTributary riverAsiaKhatanga River100,000 39,000
Markha RiverTributary riverAsiaVilyuy River99,900 38,600
DonetsTributary riverEuropeDon River98,900 38,200
Narmada RiverPrimary riverAsiaArabian Sea98,800 38,100
Kapuas River (Borneo)Primary riverAsiaSouth China Sea98,749 38,127
RhônePrimary riverEuropeMediterranean Sea98,556 38,053
Bandama RiverPrimary riverAfricaAtlantic Ocean98,500 38,000
Northern Sosva RiverTributary riverAsiaOb River98,300 38,000
Neman RiverPrimary riverEuropeBaltic Sea97,864 37,786
La Grande RiverPrimary riverNorth AmericaJames Bay97,600 37,700
Douro / DueroPrimary riverEuropeAtlantic Ocean97,502 37,646
Xiang RiverTributary riverAsiaLake Dongting96,400 37,200
Onon RiverTributary riverAsiaShilka River96,200 37,100
Sava RiverTributary riverEuropeDanube95,419 36,841
Athabasca RiverTributary riverNorth AmericaLake Athabasca95,300 36,800
Brahmani River Primary river Asia Indian Ocean 39,033 15,071
Penobscot RiverPrimary riverNorth AmericaAtlantic Ocean22,200 8,600[66]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 This is an approximate value based on geospatial data from the USGS. 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 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) . "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 , lower drainage area is probably not as much as 69,572 km2 , as that includes much surrounding dessert.

References

  1. "Background". Archived from the original on 15 July 2007.
  2. 1 2 "Largest Drainage Basins In The World". WorldAtlas. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 "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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 "Rivers". The Atlas of Canada. Natural Resources Canada. Archived from the original on 2 February 2007. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 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. 1 2 "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. pp. 31–63. ISBN 0-620-30497-9. CiteSeerx: 10.1.1.468.8632.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 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. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 River Ecosystem Ecology: A Global Perspective, Gene E. Likens, Academic Press, 29 March 2010, page 359
  28. 1 2 "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).
  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. Apure river basin at Rivers Network
  53. Lukenie Basin at Rivers Network.
  54. Uele Basin at Rivers Network.
  55. Ucayali river basin at Rivers Network
  56. Mar Chiquita Watershed at riversnetwork.org
  57. Lower Amazon watershed at Rivers Network
  58. Aruwimi Basin at Rivers Network.
  59. Lomami Basin at Rivers Network.
  60. 1 2 Rio Paraguay watersheds map at Rivers Network.
  61. Sutlej river basin at Rivers Network.
  62. "Chari - Golongosso". www.grdc.sr.unh.edu.
  63. "Chindwin river : Watershed map".
  64. "rio Napo : Watersheds map".
  65. Chari-Logone riveers watershed mapes at rivers networks.
  66. "Penobscot River Watershed". NOAA.
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