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|Flowing southeast from its headwaters in Turkey through Syria and Iraq before draining into the Persian Gulf, the Euphrates, along with the Tigris, was one of the main rivers which Mesopotamian civilizations first rose up.
 
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|A river that flows through Turkey and Iraq, it shows archaeological signs of having been colonized since at least 3 million years ago.
 
|A river that flows through Turkey and Iraq, it shows archaeological signs of having been colonized since at least 3 million years ago.
 
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|Iran's only navigable river, and its longest. Also one of the four rivers of Eden.
 
|Iran's only navigable river, and its longest. Also one of the four rivers of Eden.
 
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|The Tigris and Euphrates rivers both have tributaries named the Khabur River. Both were vital water sources for early agricultural civilizations in Mesopotamia.
 
|The Tigris and Euphrates rivers both have tributaries named the Khabur River. Both were vital water sources for early agricultural civilizations in Mesopotamia.
 
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|Flowing southeast from its headwaters in Turkey through Syria and Iraq before draining into the Persian Gulf, the Tigris, along with the Euphrates, was one of the main rivers which Mesopotamian civilizations first rose up.
 
|Flowing southeast from its headwaters in Turkey through Syria and Iraq before draining into the Persian Gulf, the Tigris, along with the Euphrates, was one of the main rivers which Mesopotamian civilizations first rose up.
 
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Revision as of 19:19, 21 November 2020

BackArrowGreen Back to Terrain Features

A River is a type of terrain feature in Civilization VI. It exists almost everywhere in the world, and it is unique in that it doesn't occupy its own tile - instead it runs between tiles. Rivers always end in a body of water, and many times they start in a Mountain.

Strategy

Rivers are invaluable for city settlement, as they supply fresh water and enable the Water Mill (and various wonders) to be built. With it, any city may get a good start at growing and producing as early as the Ancient Era! An Aqueduct built next to it will also supply a nearby city with Fresh Water for Housing Housing purposes.

But rivers do more than that. They provide a bulwark against invasions for any commander that knows how to use them; they turn Deserts into paradise by enabling the Floodplains feature; elsewhere they allow improved farming with the Civil Engineering Civic; they improve commerce thanks to the additional transport opportunities they provide for merchants.

Finally, you may use a River as means of finding the nearest sea in your early exploration. Every river flows from its source to either another river, or to a large body of water - just follow the flow direction.

Gathering Storm brings a whole new level of strategy to rivers: they are now areas of one of the brand new disasters: the flood. Pay attention to the areas marked as Floodplains (they can appear now not only in deserts, but also in plains and grassland areas) - they are the ones which will flood during disasters! You can still develop them normally, but floods may damage, or even outright destroy your improvements and districts placed there! However, they will also enrich the soil, adding Food Food and/or Production Production to their base yields, and making them potentially even more useful than before! So, developing floodplains becomes a calculated risk which may bring lots of pain or rich rewards.

River Names

Gathering Storm introduced a new mechanic in which Rivers can have different names based on the first civilization that finds them. Below is a list of river names and, where applicable, the civilization/s they are assigned to.

River Civilization Notes
Abukuma River Japan The 2nd longest river in the Tōhoku region and the 6th longest river in Japan.
Achelous River Greece It formed the boundary between Acarnania and Aetolia. In ancient times its spirit was venerated as the river god Achelous.
Agno River A river on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. It is one of the largest river systems in the country.
Aisne River Gaul A tributary of the Oise in northeastern France.
Alazani River Georgia The main tributary of the Kura in eastern Georgia. Part of its path forms the border between Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Amazon River Brazil, Gran Colombia The largest river by discharge volume of water in the world, the longest river in Brazil as well as South America, and second longest in the world.
Amiskwasîpi Cree Cree name of Beaver River. Flows east through Alberta and Saskatchewan and north into Lac Île-à-la-Crosse on the Churchill River which flows into Hudson Bay.
Amnok River Korea AKA "Yalu River".  A river on the border between North Korea and China.
Amu Darya River Historically known by its Latin name "Oxus". A major river in Central Asia. Darya is Persian for "River", so it is also known as the Amu or Amo River.
Amur River China, Russia The world's 10th longest river, forming the border between the Russian Far East and Manchuria.
Apure River Gran Colombia A river formed by the Sarare and Uribante rivers in southwestern Venezuela, which flows into the main river of the country, the Orinoco.
Apurimaq Mayu Inca Quechua name of the Apurímac River. It flows generally northwest past Cusco and is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon.
Aras River Ottomans The river that flows along the borders between Turkey and Armenia, Turkey and the Nakhchivan area of Azerbaijan, between Iran and both Azerbaijan and Armenia, and finally through Azerbaijan to the Kura River.
Arauca River Gran Colombia A river that forms part of the border between Colombia, where it rises, and Venezuela, where it flows into the Orinoco River.
Arkansas River America A major tributary of the Mississippi River. The 6th longest river in the United States, the 2nd longest tributary in the Mississippi–Missouri system, and the 45th longest river in the world.
Arno River Rome A river in the Tuscany region of Italy. It is the most important river of central Italy after the Tiber.
Atbarah River Nubia A river in northeast Africa rises in northwest Ethiopia, north of Lake Tana and west of Gondar. Referred by ancient authors as the Astabaras River.
Athabasca River Canada A river that originates from the Columbia Glacier of the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada.
Atoyac River Aztec One of two Mexican rivers. One flows into the Rio Verde, which empties into the Pacific near Laguna Chacahua, west of Puerto Escondido. The other forms part of the Río Balsas.
Awash River Ethiopia A major Ethiopian river that is well known for its prehistoric human remains as well as being the main stream in an endorheic drainage basin that encompasses much of Ethiopia and Somalia.
Awriq Mayu Inca Quechua name for the Marañón River. The principal or mainstem source of the Amazon River.
Ayung River Indonesia The longest river on the Indonesian island of Bali.
Bahr Yussef Egypt A canal which connects the Nile River with Fayyum in Egypt. In ancient times, it was known as Mer-Wer (the Great Canal). The Arabic name refers to the prophet Yusuf, the Quranic counterpart of the Biblical Joseph.
Balsas River Aztec A major river of south-central Mexico. The basin flows through the states of Puebla, Morelos, Guerrero, and Mexico. The river flows through the Sierra Madre del Sur, and empties into the Pacific Ocean at Mangrove Point, adjacent to the city of Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán.
Bani River Mali The principal tributary of the Niger River. Has three main tributaries: the Baoulé, the Bagoé River, and the Banifing-Lotio.
Barada River Arabia The main river found in the city of Damascus, the capital of Syria. The Barada is identified as 'Abana' in the Bible.
Barito River Indonesia A river of Borneo. This river is the location of the closest relative of the Malagasy language of Madagascar, the Ma'anyan language of Dayaks, from where settlers arrived in Madagascar from the 3rd to 10th century.
Baro River Ethiopia A river that forms part of the border between Ethiopia and South Sudan, where it flows west into the Pibor River and together form the Sobat River, itself a tributary of the White Nile.
Bassac River Khmer The river starts in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and flows southerly, crossing the border into Vietnam near Châu Đốc. In Vietnam it is known as the Hậu River.
Batanghari River Indonesia The longest river in the Jambi province, Sumatra island, Indonesia, about 600 km northwest of the capital of Jakarta.
Beirut River Phoenicia A river in Lebanon. According to popular legend, St. George slew the dragon in a spot near the mouth of the river. In antiquity, the river was known as Magoras, and it was the site of the worship of the god of Heliopolis.
Belize River Maya The primary river of Belize, which drains over a quarter of the nation and is a critical artery between the coast and interior. Its riverbanks are well known for lumber mills, especially that of mahogany wood, and dye plantations.
Bengawan Solo River Indonesia The longest river in the Indonesian island of Java. it is a renowned region in paleoanthropology. Many discoveries of early hominid remains have been made at several sites in its valleys, including that of the first early human fossil found outside of Europe, the "Java Man" skull.
Bio-Bio River Mapuche The 2nd largest river in Chile. It originates from Icalma and Galletué lakes in the Andes and flows to the Gulf of Arauco on the Pacific Ocean.
Blue Nile River Ethiopia Also known as Abbay in Amharic, it rises from Lake Tana in Ethiopia, then flows south, west, and northwest into Sudan, where it is officially called the Blue Nile until it reaches the White Nile at Khartoum, the Sudanese capital and forms the River Nile (and gives the Nile over 80% of its water during the rainy season).
Brahmaputra River India One of the major rivers of Asia, a trans-boundary river which flows through Tibet, India, and Bangladesh.
Brisbane River Australia The longest river in South East Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay.
Bug River Poland A tributary of the Narew River, the Bug River forms a part of the border between Ukraine and Poland and the border between Belarus and Poland for and is the 4th longest Polish river.
Bukhan River Korea A tributary of the Han River that flows through both North and South Korea. It traverses Kangwon province in North Korea and Gangwon and Gyeonggi provinces in South Korea.
Caroní River Gran Colombia The second most important river of Venezuela, which flows north from the famous tepui, Kukenan, to the Orinoco.
Cauca River Gran Colombia A 965-km long river in Colombia that flows northeast from Popayán to the Magdalena River, which drains into the Caribbean Sea.
Chinchipe River Inca A river on the border between Ecuador and Peru. The river originates in Ecuador. In Ecuador and Peru, the river is also known as Canananbo, Chuquimayo, or Mayo. The river flows into the Maranon River.
Chixoy River Maya Also known as the Río Negro, it is Guatemala's strongest river: it discharges over 551 cubic metres of water per second.
Coatzacoalcos River Aztec A large river that feeds mainly the south part of the state of Veracruz; According to Mesoamerican legend, the god Quetzalcoatl was aboard a raft made of a serpent skin and navigated until getting lost into the horizon.
Colorado River America One of the principal rivers in the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The river drains an expansive watershed that encompasses parts of 7 U.S. and 2 Mexican states.
Columbia River Canada, America The longest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America.
Congo River Kongo Formerly known as the Zaire River, is the 2nd longest river in Africa, as well as the 2nd largest river in the world by discharge volume. It is also the world's deepest recorded river.
Cooper Creek Australia One of the most famous rivers in Australia because it was the site of the death of the explorers Burke and Wills in 1861. Also known as the Barcoo River from one of its tributaries and is 1 of 3 major Queensland river systems that flow into the Lake Eyre basin.
Dal River Sweden A river in central Sweden that flows from the north of Dalarna and runs into the sea in northern Uppland; it is commonly considered to be the southern border of Norrland.
Damietta River Egypt Also known as Damiata, or Domyat, is a port and the capital of the Damietta Governorate in Egypt, a former bishopric and present multiple Catholic titular see.
Danube River Hungary, Germany Europe's second longest river, after the Volga. It is located in Central and Eastern Europe. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast passing through or bordering Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, 

Bulgaria, Moldova and Ukraine before draining into the Black Sea.

Darling River Australia The 3rd longest river in Australia. Including its longest contiguous tributaries, it is the longest river system in Australia.

The Darling River is also the outback's most famous waterway.

Daugava River Russia A river rising in the Valdai Hills, flowing through Russia, Belarus, and Latvia and into the Gulf of Riga.
Dawa River Ethiopia
Delaware River America A major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States. It flows through five U.S. states: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania. It is most famous for when President George Washington crossed the river on Christmas to engage the British at the Battle of Trenton.
Diyala River Sumer A river and tributary of the Tigris. It is formed by the confluence of Sirwan river and Tanjero river in Darbandikhan Dam in the Sulaymaniyah Governorate of Northern Iraq.
Dnieper River Russia The fourth longest river in Europe, flowing from Russia southwards through Belarus and Ukraine before draining into the Black Sea. It is a well known cultural barrier, separating Ukraine in two.
Dniester River
Don River Russia, Scythia The fifth-longest river in Europe, it flows through Central Russia and empties into the Sea of Azov. It was historically inhabited by many groups of Slavic nomads, including the Massagetae.
Douro River Spain A river that flows through Spain and Portugal, known for the wine grown on its banks.
Dunajec River Poland A tributary of the Vistula River that flows through Poland and Slovakia.
Ebro River Spain The longest river contained entirely in Spain. It drains into the Mediterranean in Tarragona.
Elbe River Germany A river that flows through many of Germany's largest cities, such as Berlin, Hamburg, Dresden and Leipzig.
Enguri River Georgia A river in Georgia that provides a large amount of hydroelectric power. It is on the declared border of a state called Abkhazia, which is attempting to secede from Georgia but has not been internationally recognized.
Euphrates River Arabia, Babylon, Sumer Flowing southeast from its headwaters in Turkey through Syria and Iraq before draining into the Persian Gulf, the Euphrates, along with the Tigris, was one of the main rivers which Mesopotamian civilizations first rose up.
Eurotas River Greece One of the largest rivers on the Peloponnese.
River Forth Scotland A river in Scotland that runs through Stirling.
Fraser River Canada The longest river in British Columbia, and the site of a gold rush in 1858.
Gambia River Mali A river that dominates The Gambia, the smallest country in Africa and a part of the former Kingdom of Mali.
Ganale Dorya River Ethiopia A river in southern Ethiopia which serves as the border between Sidamo and Bale provinces.
Ganges River India A major river in northern India, flowing east from the Himalayas through India and Bangladesh before draining into the Bay of Bengal. Over 400,000,000 people live on the Ganges.
Geum River Korea A river in South Korea which forms several alluvial plains along its length. It was a major means of commerce during the Three Kingdoms period.
Glomma River Norway Norway's longest river (also known as Glåma north of Akershus), which flows for 621 km from its source, the lake Aursund near Røros in Trøndelag, to its mouth at Fredrikstad in eastern Norway, where it flows into the Oslofjord. It also flows through the lake Øyeren, in which the river has created Northern Europe's largest inland delta, and one of its tributaries, Vorma, serves to drain Mjøsa, Norway's largest lake.
Godavari River India This river, known as the "Ganges of the South", is the largest in the Indian peninsula, and significant in Hindu scripture.
Great Zab River Babylon, Sumer A river that flows through Turkey and Iraq, it shows archaeological signs of having been colonized since at least 3 million years ago.
Grijalva River Maya A river in Mexico named after the conquistador who discovered it, Juan de Grijalva.
Guadalquivir River Spain The largest navigable river in Spain, it is a center of trade. Seville sits at its head.
Guadiana River Spain A river that defines a long section of the Portuguese-Spanish border.
Gudbrandsdalslågen Norway Together with the river Vorma, which is a result of this river's discharge into the lake Mjøsa, Gudbrandsdalslågen is the fourth longest river in Norway. It flows through the valley of Gudbrandsdalen in Eastern Norway, from its source at the lake Lesjaskogsvatnet to its mouth at the aforementioned lake Mjøsa.
Hai River China The confluence of five rivers, including the Northern Canal, which makes it the only sea route to Beijing.
Haliacmon River Macedon, Greece A river that flows through the Greek regions of West and Central Macedonia. "Haliacmon" is an anglicization; officially it is called Aliákmonos.
Han River Korea Fourth longest river in Korea. It is formed by two tributaries which converge near South Korea's capital, Seoul.
Hondo River Maya A river that forms most of the border between Belize and Mexico, and is significant in Belizean cultural heritage. Many ancient Mayan archaeological sites are found on its length.
Hutt River Australia There are two Hutt Rivers in Australia. One is in West Australia, the other in South Australia. The West Australian one was home to an unrecognized micronation called the Principality of Hutt River, which dissolved in August 2020.
IJssel River Netherlands
Imjin River Korea A river that crosses the DMZ between North and South Korea. It was the site of a major battle in the Korean War.
Indal River Sweden
Indus River India The longest river in Pakistan and 19th in the world. It is most well known for being the birthplace of the Indus River valley civilization (which is represented in Civilization VI as the city-state Mohenjo Daro).
Inkisi River Kongo The last and largest tributary of the Congo River.
Irrawaddy River Khmer The longest and national river of Myanmar and 31st longest in the world.
Ishikari River Japan The longest river in Hokkaido. Its name is derived from Ainu words that mean "to spin about", as it forms many oxbow lakes.
Itata River Mapuche A river in Chile that marked the border between Mapuche territory and the territory of the Picunche to the north.
Jājrūd River Persia A river in northern Iran.
Jordan River Phoenicia, Arabia A river that gave its name to the nation of Jordan, the borders of which it lies wholly within. In Judeo-Christian scripture, the Israelites crossed it into the promised land, and Jesus was baptized in it by John the Baptist.
Júcar River Spain A river that burst its banks in 1982, causing the biggest flood in Spanish history.
Kapuas River Indonesia There are two Kapuas Rivers, both on the primarily Indonesian-owned island of Borneo. The northern one is the largest river in Indonesia and nurtures a large, biodiverse rainforest.
Karkheh River Persia A river in Iran whose water was sacred in rites of the Persian kings. It is mentioned in the Book of Daniel, 8:2, 16. It is also one of the four rivers of Eden, along with the Tigris, Euphrates, and Karun.
Karun River Babylon, Persia Iran's only navigable river, and its longest. Also one of the four rivers of Eden.
Kasai River Kongo A tributary of the Congo river. It provides fertile farmland in an otherwise arid area along its stretch, and diamonds can be found in the riverbed.
Kātēpwēwi-sīpī Cree Now known as Calling River officially, in modern-day Alberta.
Kaveri River India The third-largest river in India, it is sacred to the people of South India and its personification is worshipped as the goddess Kaveriamma.
Kawarau River Māori A river on the South Island of New Zealand, it was crossed regularly by the Māori to obtain pounamu (a highly-valued green stone) from mountain deposits on its opposite side.
Kawatiri River Māori One of the longest rivers in New Zealand, it is now known mostly as the Buller River rather than its Māori name.
Kerülen River Mongolia Originates north of Ulaanbataar, the modern capital of Mongolia, and flows through much of the eastern Mongolian steppe.
Khabur River Babylon, Sumer The Tigris and Euphrates rivers both have tributaries named the Khabur River. Both were vital water sources for early agricultural civilizations in Mesopotamia.
Kisiskāciwani-sīpiy Cree, Canada Now officially the Saskatchewan River, this river was historically important in fur trade before the nation's formation. Its watershed encompasses much of central Canada and even reaches the U.S. state of Montana.
Kitakami River Japan The fourth largest river in Japan, it was an important route of transportation before the railway system was implemented.
Kızılırmak River Byzantium, Ottomans Historically known as the Halys River, it played a role in many Roman struggles for Anatolian territory before the fall of Rome.
Klara River Sweden Actually called Klar River. It is the longest river in Scandinavia.
Körös River Hungary A river that flows through Hungary and Romania. The neolithic Körös culture takes its name from this river.
Kshipra River India More often known as simply Shipra; Kshipra is the name of a goddess associated with the river. The holy city of Ujjain is situated on its east bank, and a large festival is held there every 12 years in Kshipra's honor. It is a perennial river, and does not flow except during monsoon season.
Kura River Georgia A river that flows through Turkey, Georgia, and Azerbaijan on its way to the Caspian Sea. There is evidence of agricultural society on its banks up to 4,500 years ago.
Lek River Netherlands A distributary branch of the Rhine.
Lena River Russia One of the three great Siberian rivers, along with the Yenisey and the Ob. It is 77% covered in permafrost.
Limpopo River Zulu A large river in East Africa, made famous by a mention in Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories. It serves as a border between South Africa and Botswana and Zimbabwe for part of its length.
Litani River Phoenicia A river in modern-day Lebanon, it derives its name from a seven-headed sea serpent worshipped by the Phoenicians.
Loire River France, Gaul A French river known for its many Chateaux and the fine wine produced in the river valley- it is even referred to in an achievement for this reason.
Lule River Sweden A major river in Sweden. It is lined with fortifications and encampments, built in the 1980s with the intent of forestalling a Soviet invasion if it came.
Mackenzie River Canada The longest river in Canada and the thirteenth longest in the world. The initial human migration to North America is believed to have followed this river.
Madeira River Brazil The largest tributary of the Amazon.
Magdalena River Gran Colombia The largest river in Colombia. It takes its name from Mary Magdalene, a disciple of Jesus.
Mahakam River Indonesia
Maipo River Inca, Mapuche A river that flows through the Chilean capital of Santiago, and is its primary water source for irrigation and drinking water.
Mamberamo River Indonesia The largest river in Indonesia. Its valley is largely unexplored and rich with biodiversity and even uncontacted native tribes.
Mantō-sīpiy Cree Officially known as Gods River, a remote river in the Canadian wilderness that drains into Hudson Bay.
Mapocho River Mapuche A river that bisects Santiago, the capital of Chile. Its headwater is in the Andes mountains.
Mareb River Nubia Also known as the Gash River, it forms the border between Eritrea and Ethiopia.
Maritsa River Byzantium, Greece The largest river in the Balkans, it is the site of an ongoing illegal immigration crisis. There is a hypothesis that its ancient name, Ebros, is the namesake of the continent of Europe.
Mata-Au River Māori The second-longest river in New Zealand. It was once the site of a gold rush. Native Māori activists are working to establish a national park around it.
Maule River Inca, Mapuche A river important to Chilean culture, its name is the Mapudungun word for "rainy". Many famous Chileans are native to the surrounding area. It marked the southern border of the Inca Empire.
Meander River Byzantium Located in modern southern Turkey, it lent its name to the word "meander", or "to wander", thanks to its erratic path.
Medjerda River Phoenicia A river in northern Tunisia considered an important resource by the Phoenicians and many others who settled around it. The port of Utica was founded at its mouth.
Mekong River Khmer The twelfth-longest river in the world. Although made difficult to navigate by its numerous rapids and waterfalls (and thus serving as a natural cultural boundary between many Southeast Asian cultures), it is important for trade and agriculture.
Meta River Gran Colombia A major tributary of the Orinoco.
Meuse River Netherlands, France, Gaul A historically important river in the history of the Netherlands, France, and Belgium. It served as the western border of the Holy Roman Empire and its lower, Belgian portion was the first industrialized area in Europe. It also gives its name to Mosasaurus, a prehistoric marine reptile.
Mississippi River America The second longest river in North America, together with the Missouri River forms the third longest river in the world. It rises in Minnesota, flowing south, forming part of or all of the borders between US states Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana before draining into the Gulf of Mexico.
Missouri River America The longest tributary of the Mississippi River and the longest river in North America. It rises in Montana, flowing through North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas before meeting the Mississippi River in Missouri.
Mixteco River Aztec A river in Mexico that drains into both the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico.
Mogami River Japan A river mentioned in many of the haiku of the famous Japanese poet Matsuo Bashou.
Motagua River Maya A river in Guatemala. It was an important trade route for the Maya. The Quirigua site, a jade mine and workshop, is located near its head along with several other, smaller jade quarries.
Mtkvari River Georgia The Georgian name for the Kura River.
Murat River Ottomans Also known as the Eastern Euphrates.
Murray River Australia The longest river in Australia, and its most important agricultural region. It has great spiritual significance to Aboriginal groups, many of whom believe it to have been carved out by an enormous cod fleeing a hunter.
Murrumbidgee River Australia A major tributary of the Murray, its name means "big water" in the language of the Wiradjuri, an Aboriginal group that lives in the surrounding area.
Musi River Indonesia A river that flows through much of Sumatra, it was once used extensively by the Srivajayan Empire, the first major uniting force in Indonesia. It was later defeated by Mahapajit.
Nakdong River Korea This river's basin has been inhabited for as long as Korea has, notably by the Gaya confederacy, a major political power during the Three Kingdoms period. It was later notable for being a main import route for seafood.
Narew River Poland A river in Belarus and northeastern Poland.
Narmada River India One of the seven holy rivers of Hinduism, believed to be created along with the Brahmaputra from the tears of Brahma, the creator. Its name is Sanskrit for "the Giver of Pleasure".
Nestos River Greece A river that flows through Greece and Bulgaria. It forms the northern border of Macedon.
Niger River Mali A river that flows through Mali, Niger, Benin and Nigeria. Its name comes from the Berber ger-n-ger or "river of rivers", and it gives its name to Niger, Nigeria, and various racial epithets. Its alluvial plain is a crucial site of agriculture in the otherwise barren western Sahara, and was a key area for trans-Saharan trade.
Nile River Nubia, Arabia, Egypt The longest river in Africa and the world, flowing from the African Great Lakes region northwards. Its drainage basin covers Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt. It was where the Egyptian civilization, the first civilization in the world, rose to power.
Northern Dvina Russia The northern Dvina river.
Noteć River Poland A river whose surrounding region was contested by Poland for hundreds of years for its critical strategic value.
Numedal River Norway Known as Numedalslågen in Norwegian and the third longest river in Norway. It flows from its source on the Hardangervidda mountain plateau in central southern Norway, to its mouth in the town of Larvik, where it flows into the Skagerrak.
Ob River Russia The world's seventh-longest river. Its banks host Novosibirsk, the third-largest city in Russia and a stop on the Trans-Siberian Railway, before the construction of which it was vital for navigating the surrounding region.
Ochekwi-Sipi Cree Now known as Fisher River, except to the Cree who live on the reservation on its banks, after a North American mammal who was hunted here for its furs.
Oder River Poland, Germany Third-longest river in Poland after the Vistula and Warta. It rises in the Czech Republicand flows through western Poland, later forming the border between Poland and Germany as part of the Oder–Neisse line.
Ofanto River Rome Known to ancient Romans as the Aufidus. It is situated in southern Italy, and originates on the Irpinia Plateau.
Ohio River America The largest tributary of the Mississippi River, flowing west from the US state of Pennsylvania, forming the borders between Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois before meeting the Mississippi River at the borders of Illinois, Kentucky, and Missouri.
Okavango River
Orange River
Orinoco River Gran Colombia The fourth largest river in the world by discharge volume. Its name is derived from the Warao word for "paddling place", güiri-noko. It hosts extensive biodiversity and is a method of travel through central Venezuela.
Orkhon River Mongolia The longest river in Mongolia, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Orontes River Phoenicia Now flowing through Syria and Lebanon, it is most famous for flowing through Antioch, sometimes called Antioch-on-the-Orontes in antiquity for this reason.
Otra River Norway The ninth longest river in Norway and the longest in the country's Sørlandet region. Begins in the mountains known as Setesdalsheiene, at the lake Breidvatnet, and ends at the town of Kristiansand, flowing into the Skagerrak.
Papaloapan River Aztec Meaning "river of the butterflies" in Nahuatl, it has historically been a hot spot for flooding.
Paraguay River
Paraná River Brazil The second longest river in South America.
Paroo River Australia A perennial river only flowing in the wet season - at all other times, it is a series of interconnected watering holes. The Paarkantji Aboriginals live in and around it.
Pearl River China The third longest river in China and second largest by volume after the Yangtze. It is most well known for its delta, where Cantonese culture rose up.
Po River Rome A major river in northern Italy, its drainage basin services 1/3 of all of Italy's population.
Potomac River America This river is most famous as the site of the founding of Washington, D.C. It serves as a border between the federal district and Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.
Powinigow Sipi Cree, Canada Now known as Nelson River. Its original Cree name meant "the rapid strangers' river". The Canadian government is at odds with Cree protesters over the environmental impact of damming the river in several places.
Prut River Byzantium A tributary of the Danube and a natural border between Romania, Moldova and Ukraine. It is famous for a battle that took place on it between Peter the Great's Russia and the Ottoman Empire, and later for its crossing by the rebel leader Alexandros Ypsilantis, an event that would come to symbolize Greek and Romanian independence.
Putumayu Inca Actually called Putumayo. It originates in the Andes Mountains and eventually comes to an end in the Amazon.
Rába River Hungary Not to be confused with the Raba, in Poland. It is a tributary of the Danube.
Rakaia River Māori A river in southern New Zealand famous for being a Chinook salmon breeding ground. It gives its name to the small town of Rakaia along its length.
Rangatikei River Māori Actually spelled Rangitīkei. It is a popular tourism site for water sports and bungee jumping thanks to its rapids and sheer cliffs. It was also featured in the Lord of the Rings film series.
Rauma River Norway A river that flows through the valley of Romsdalen in Western and Eastern Norway. It begins at the lake Lesjaskogsvatnet and flows into the Romsdalsfjord, its mouth lying between the villages Åndalsnes and Veblungsnes in Møre og Romsdal county.
Red River
Rhine River France, Gaul, Germany, Netherlands The eleventh longest river in Europe, rising in Switzerland and flowing mostly northwards through Liechtenstein, Austria, France, Germany, and draining the Netherlands. It was the northern boundary of the Roman Empire, as well as the desired boundary against Germany for France in medieval times.
Rhone River France, Gaul The largest river in France by volume. It originates in a glacier in Switzerland before it flows through France. Its delta is referred to as the Camargue.
Rio Grande America The river that forms the boundary between Texas (as both a separate republic and a U.S. state) and Mexico. It has carved out a large chasm, which serves as a natural deterrent to attempts to cross the border; there are many crossings, the most famous being El Paso and Ciudad Juárez.
Río Negro Brazil, Gran Colombia The Amazon river's largest tributary. Its name is Spanish for Black River, which refers to how much of its water is filled with decomposite products of dead vegetation, giving it an appearance similar to black tea. This is a phenomenon known as blackwater, and the Río Negro is in fact the world's largest blackwater river.
Rioni River Georgia The main river of western Georgia, with the Kura being the main river of the East. The Greeks knew it as the Phasis, and considered it, as well as the burgeoning kingdom of Colchis, famous as the home of the Golden Fleece and predecessor of Georgia, the eastern limit of the world, as the Rock of Gibraltar was for the west. The scientific name of the pheasant is phasianus colchicus, as the Greeks were introduced to the pheasant by the Georgians.
River Avon England There are no less than six Rivers Avon in England proper, three in Scotland, two each in Canada and New Zealand, and five in Australia. The River Avon in Warwickshire is sometimes known as Shakespeare's Avon, as the famous playwright was born in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon on this Avon.
River Clyde Scotland The second-longest river in Scotland. It became important during the Industrial Revolution as Glasgow, the city it runs through, faces towards the New World and was easier to launch expeditions there from. As a result, it became a major hub of shipbuilding industries.
River Dee Scotland A very popular Scottish tourism site thanks to the combination of scenic sights and good fishing. It is one of the most famous salmon rivers in the world. Victoria visited the river once and was purportedly so pleased by the scenery she had Balmoral Castle built there. The area surrounding it is now known as Royal Deeside.
River Eden England There are two Rivers Eden in England proper, two in Scotland, and one each in Wales and Dominica.
River Great Ouse England The longest of 3 English rivers named the Ouse. It is the fourth longest river in England. One of its tributaries is the River Cam, which gives its name to Cambridge (i.e. a bridge over the Cam).
River Severn England The longest river in the United Kingdom.
River Spey Scotland A fast-flowing river in Scotland. It is famous for salmon fishing and originates the term "Spey fishing", a type of fly fishing. On its banks also are some of the most prolific whiskey distilleries in the world.
River Tay Scotland The longest river in Scotland.
River Tees England
River Trent England
River Welland England
Rosetta River Egypt A part of the Nile named because it flows through the Egyptian port city of Rosetta. The Rosetta Stone, the key to deciphering Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, was so named because it was found in this river.
Rubicon River Rome A small river in Italy known for its association with the Latin phrase 'Alea iacta est', uttered by Julius Caesar in 49 BC as he crossed the Rubicon with his troops against Roman general Pompey. The phrase, meaning 'the die is cast', has been transliterated into English as 'crossing the Rubicon', another phrase with an identical meaning.
Saint Lawrence River Canada, America A river that connects the Great Lakes of North America to the Atlantic Ocean. It forms part of the international boundary between Canada and the United States east of Lake Ontario, between the Canadian province of Ontario and the US state of New York. It is also the primary river in Quebec, where it ultimately drains.
Sakarya River Byzantium, Ottomans
Salween River China
Samalá River Maya
San River Poland
Sankarani River Mali
Sankuru River Kongo
São Francisco River Brazil
Saraswati River India
Scheldt River Gaul, Netherlands
Se Kong River Khmer
Sefīd River Persia
Seine River France, Gaul
Senegal River Mali
Seomjin River Korea
Shebelle River Ethiopia
Shinano River Japan
Songhua River China
Srepok River Khmer
Struma River Macedon, Greece
Susquehanna River America
Syr Darya River Scythia
Tagus River Spain
Tapiskwan Sipi Cree
Tarim River China
Te Awakairangi Māori
Tehuantepec River Aztec
Tenryu River Japan
Teshio River Japan
River Thames England The second longest river in Great Britain, it is most known for being the river which flows through London.
Tiber River Rome The third longest river in Italy, it is most known for being the river which flows through Rome.
Tigris River Arabia, Babylon, Sumer Flowing southeast from its headwaters in Turkey through Syria and Iraq before draining into the Persian Gulf, the Tigris, along with the Euphrates, was one of the main rivers which Mesopotamian civilizations first rose up.
Tisza River Hungary
Tocantins River Brazil
Toltén River Mapuche
Tonalá River Aztec
Tone River Japan
Tongariro River Māori
Tonlé San River Khmer
Tonlé Sap River Khmer
Torne River Sweden
Truful-Truful River Mapuche
Tshuapa River Kongo
Tugela River Zulu
Tuul River Mongolia
Ucayali River Inca
Umfolozi River Zulu
Umzimkulu River Zulu
uMzinyathi River Zulu
Ural River Russia, Scythia
Usumacinta River Maya
Vardar River Macedon
Vistula River Poland The longest and largest river in Poland.
Volga River Russia, Scythia
Waal River Netherlands
Wadi Al-Batin Arabia
Wadi al-Rummah Arabia
Wadi Hanifa Arabia
Waiapu River Māori
Waiau River Māori
Waikato River Māori
Waimakariri River Māori
Waitaki River Māori
Wallaqa Mayu Inca
Warrego River Australia
Warta River Poland Poland's longest river after the Vistula.
Wazalafken River Mapuche
Wei River China
Weser River Germany
Whanganui River Māori
Willkamayu Inca
Wisłoka River Poland
Wuskwi Sipi Cree
Yamuna River India
Yangtze River China The longest river in China and the third longest in the world. It flows east from the Tibetan Plateau to the East China Sea, its drainage basin covering 1/5 of all of China, with 1/3 of China's population living within its basin. It is culturally known as the line that divides north China from south China.
Yellow River China The second longest river in China and the sixth longest in the world. It rises in the Bayan Har mountains in Qinghai Province, flowing east to the Bohai Sea. It is the birthplace of Chinese civilization.
Yenisei River Mongolia, Russia
Yeşilırmak River Ottomans
Yukon River Canada, America
Zagyva River Hungary
Zambezi River
Zavkhan River Mongolia
Zāyandé River Persia