River Map

The USA River Map traces the complex network of waterways that weave across the country, supplying fresh water and providing an alternate means of transport to communities along the way. In history, rivers in the US have been vital to the growth of the country and the movement of its people, as movement of goods and people was facilitated by ship.

The rivers in the US can be divided into two main systems: Eastern and Pacific. The Great Divide is the major continental divide in the United States which separates the rivers draining out into the Pacific Ocean from those that flow to the Atlantic. The Great Divide is located along the highest ridges of the Rocky Mountains, and can be viewed on the USA Physical Map.

In the Eastern system, the Missouri river is considered the longest river in North America, and is one of the largest tributaries of the Mississippi, along with the Ohio River. The Mississippi, along with its many tributaries, flows through the US from Lake Itasca, Minnesota in the north, to its mouth in the Gulf of Mexico, near New Orleans, Louisiana, draining parts of 31 states. The Mississippi's enormous impact on the development of the country is unmistakable; the river forms the border between many of the states along its route. As one of the country's most navigable rivers, the ease of transportation allowed several major cities to spring up along the Mississippi, including St Louis, Memphis, and New Orleans.

On the Pacific end, the Colorado River carved into the earth over millions of years, creating the deep gorges of the Grand Canyon. Flowing across the southwestern US, the Colorado drains seven US states before trailing down through Mexico and out to the Gulf of California. In the Pacific Northwest, the Columbia River flows heavily, creating a drainage basin so large that spreads over several states.

Throughout the country's history, rivers in the US have both impacted and reflected the development of the nation, delivering essential supplies and fresh water through its veins, to support the communities of the United States.