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Bilingual Education Act
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The Bilingual Education Act (BEA) (81 Stat. 816), also known as Title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Amendments of 1967 (Pub.L. 90–247), approved by the 90th United States Congress on January 2, 1968, and was the first United States federal legislation recognized the needs of limited English speaking ability (LESA) students. The BEA was introduced in 1967 by Texas senator Ralph Yarborough and was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on January 2, 1968. While some states, such as California and Texas, and numerous local school districts around the country already had policies and programs designed to meet the special educational needs of elementary and secondary school students not fluent in the English language, this act signaled that the federal government now also recognized the need for and value of bilingual education programs in U.S. public education. Passed on the heels of the Civil Rights movement, its purpose was to provide school districts with federal funds, in the form of competitive grants, to establish innovative educational programs for students with limited English speaking ability.[1]
Contents
[hide]
1 Cultural implications
2 Implementation and funding
3 Amendments to the Bilingual Education Act
3.1 1974 amendments
3.2 1978 amendments
3.3 1984 amendments
3.4 1988 amendments
3.5 1994 reauthorization
4 Significant court decisions
5 The Bilingual Education Act and No Child Left Behind
6 See also
7 References
8 External links
9 Further reading
Cultural implications[edit]
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The BEA was a significant piece of education legislation. Its passage signaled "a shift from the notion that students should be afforded equal educational opportunity to the idea that educational policy should work to equalize academic outcomes, even if such equity demanded providing different learning environments."[2]
Additionally, it reflected changes in cultural perspectives towards diversity and immigration. The BEA was an important shift away from the late 1950s anticommunist sentiment where anything foreign was suspect, which had destroyed many earlier local and state attempts at bilingual education.[3] Furthermore, it recognized that the federal government was responsible for educating immigrants to the US and opened doors for bilingual education projects on local, state, and federal levels.
Furthermore, this legislation, successfully enacted into law largely thanks to the efforts of Spanish speakers, has become an important part of the "polemic between assimilation and multiculturalism" and the role that language education in our society.[4] Because the BEA in its original form promoted celebrating linguistic and cultural differences and diversity in the U.S., it in many ways challenged assimilationist theories and the "melting pot" concept of the U.S. And yet, in its final form when passed, it did not mention the important link between language and culture, leaving the language vague.
The act additionally opened up a larger need for teachers who could teach language and other content within a language besides English. This placed a strain on the teaching pool available in 1968 and even today there is a shortage of teachers for these highly specialized positions. Culturally, it was argued in this time period that by teaching in a certain language it also taught specific values instead of just a way of communication.[5]
Implementation and funding[edit]
When Senator Yarborough introduced the bill to the Senate in 1967, he envisioned it as a way of addressing the "'poor performance in school and high dropout rates... and great psychological harm' caused by 'English-only policies, no Spanish-speaking rules, and cultural degradation'" that was evident in many schools at the time.[6]
Although the passage of the act was a bipartisan effort on behalf of Republicans and Democrats, it underwent significant changes between 1967 and 1968. Many of these changes were in the wording and framing of the act, which ultimately did not recognize the importance of biculturalism or the benefit of bilingualism or even the link between language and culture. Rather, it framed students of LESA as a "problem" that needed to be fixed. In addition, unlike what Yarborough had conceived, it provided no funding for permanent programs regarding students of LESA, as many people feared promoting a sense of entitlement in students and families benefitting from the act.
The BEA provided school districts with federal funds, in the form of competitive grants, to establish innovative educational programs for students with limited English speaking ability. The grants that the act provided were given directly to school districts and were to be used to buy resources for educational programs, to train teachers and teachers' aides, to develop and distribute materials and to create meaningful parental involvement projects. Although the act did not require the use of bilingual instruction or the use of a student's native language, its aim was to encourage innovative programs designed to teach students English. The act also gave school districts the opportunity to provide bilingual education programs without violating segregation laws, but at this time, participation was voluntary. Program effectiveness was evaluated at the end of every year and successful programs were eligible to receive federal funding for up to five years.
Because the BEA funding was provided in the form of grants, most of the financial clout lay with local and state education agencies (LEAs and SEAs). However, the federal government limited the reach of these funds in a few significant ways. To begin with, from a simple framing standpoint, the original 1968 BEA did not include any mention of instruction in or maintenance of a student's native language, limiting the potential impact of the act.
From a financial perspective, the BEA was also limited. The only programs eligible for receiving funding were programs for children between the ages of 3 and 8. Because it was meant to redress the dropout issue, the act with this caveat on funding viewed high school students of LESA somewhat of a lost cause. In addition, the act did not fund any permanent programs for educating students of LESA, but only funding exploratory programs. As a result, it did not seek to truly address the burgeoning issue of how to educate students who were not English dominant. Lastly, the funds were at first reserved for communities whose average income was below the poverty line stated in the ESEA ($3,000 in 1968). This limitation on funding had the unfortunate side effect of framing the act as a somewhat of a handout to poor, Latino communities.[7]
Due to many of these limitations and the vague wording of much of the BEA, funding was limited in the first three years to $85 million. By 1972, "only 100,391 students nationally, out of approximately 5,000,000 in need were enrolled in a Title VII-funded program."[8]
Amendments to the Bilingual Education Act[edit]
1974 amendments[edit]
The Bilingual Education Act of 1968 was not specific and participation by school districts was voluntary. As a result, Civil rights activists argued that the rights of minority-language students were being violated under this act.[9] In 1974, three amendments were made to the original act in an attempt to clarify the intent and design of programs designated for the education of LESA students. There were two significant events that impacted these changes: the Lau V. Nichols case and the Equal Educational Opportunity Act of 1974.
Lau v. Nichols was a class-action suit brought against the San Francisco School District and alleged that due to their inability to speak English, there were 1,800 Chinese students who were being denied an equal education. In 1974, the Supreme Court overruled the ruling of the lower courts and determined that the same resources, teachers and curriculum did not imply that the education was equal for students who had a limited command of the English language.[10] In the same year as the Supreme Court's ruling, the Equal Education Opportunity Act was passed. By citing instructional programs as the means through which language barriers were to be broken, it effectively extended the Lau ruling to all students and school districts. Furthermore, school districts were required to have special programs for LESA students regardless of federal or state funding.[11]
The amendments in 1974 served to do the following:
define "Bilingual Education Program" as one that provided instruction in English and in the native language of the student to allow the student to progress effectively through the educational system
define the program's goal to prepare LESA students to participate effectively in the regular classroom as quickly as possible while simultaneously maintaining the native language and culture of the student
create regional support centers of consultants and trainers to provide support to school systems
stipulate capacity-building efforts by providing funds to school districts' efforts to expand curricula, staff and research for bilingual programs
Funding increased from $7.5 million in 1968 to $68 million and as a result, programs were able to impact 368,000 students.[12]
1978 amendments[edit]
In 1978, further amendments were made to extend the act and broaden the definition of eligible students. Specifically, these amendments served to do the following:
emphasize the strictly transitional nature of native language instruction
expand eligibility to students who are limited English proficient (LEP)
permit enrollment of English-speaking students in bilingual programs[13]
Funding increased from $68 million in 1974 to $135 million which was enough to provide funding for 565 school districts and for secondary programs including service centers, graduate school fellowships and training for undergraduate students interested in becoming bilingual educators.[14]
1984 amendments[edit]
In 1984, the Bilingual Education Act was further modified. The amendments enacted during this time served to:
increase the flexibility in the implementation of programs for LEP students by providing school districts with more autonomy and independence in deciding how these students should be taught
allow school districts to apply for funding for different, innovative programs that best met the needs of their students[15]
Funding for these amendments was $139.4 million and there was a heavy emphasis placed on districts using the funding to build enough capacity to eventually be able to support LEP programs without federal government funding.[16]
1988 amendments[edit]
The BEA was amended again in 1988. The changes this year served to:
increase funding to state education agencies
expand funding for "special alternative" programs
create fellowship programs for professional training[15]
Funding for the 1988 amendments was $159 million, with regulations for how the money should be divided. Specifically, at least 60% should be spent developing programs and at least 25% of funds should be spent on training.[17]
1994 reauthorization[edit]
The Bilingual Education Act (BEA) reauthorization in 1994 maintained the same tenets as the original BEA, introduced new grant categories, set up preference to programs promoting bilingualism, and took into account indigenous languages. Overall, the premise of this addition was to introduce a more systemic reform.[18]
Priority given to bilingualism programs: Though the Bilingual Education Act legislation did not prescribe specific instructional practices, it did provide a guide to help language minority students. The 1994 reauthorization gave preference to grant applications that developed bilingual proficiency, which Local Education Agencies had the right to develop themselves based on the guidelines of the BEA.[18]
In the FY2000 691 Bilingual Education Instructional Service Grants were given out totaling just over $162 million. The largest grants in FY2000 were given to the state of California and New York at approximately $58 million and $22.5 million respectively.[19]
1994 California Proposition 187 was introduced in order to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining state provided health care, social services and public education. This was voted on by the public and became a law in November 1994. Citizens challenged the constitutionality of this proposition and in March 1998 it was ruled unconstitutional and was taken away. Though the law did not last, it impacted students who were ELL throughout the mid-to-late 1990s.[20]
Significant court decisions[edit]
Meyer v. Nebraska was the first U.S. Supreme Court case that addressed American education of foreign-languages. This case did away with a Nebraska law that prevented public and private schools from offering instruction in any language but English. '"The protection of the [U.S.] Constitution extends to all, to those who speak other languages as well as to those born with English on the tongue," Supreme Court Justice James C. McReynolds wrote. The decision established the principle that parents have a constitutional right to direct the upbringing of their children, including their education.'.[21]
Lau v. Nichols was a case brought forward, in which Chinese-American students attending a public school in San Francisco alleged that the failure to provide bilingual instruction to all non-English speaking students violated their rights to education due to limited English comprehension. The case did not create a specific remedy, yet in conjunction with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, ruled in favor of the students, thus expanding the rights of students with limited English proficiency.[22]
Serna v. Portales was a case that dictated when a "substantial group" of students with limited English proficiency was present, bilingual education was required.[22]
Aspira v. N.Y. Board of Education required testing for students in English and their native language in order to understand if they should receive additional services and bilingual education.[22]
Keyes v. School District No. 1, Denver, Colorado stated that students should receive instruction in their native language and English until proficiency in English is achieved.[23]
Flores v. Arizona stated that Arizona must do more to fund instruction for ELL students. The Arizona courts rejected tenets of the NCLB law that changed the services provided to ELL students. This case was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.[24]
Castaneda v. Pickard in 1981 created a basis for pedagogically addressing Limited English Proficiency (LEP) students. It required that districts have a plan for addressing LEP students, that schools provide qualified staff to implement that plan, and that the district has developed an effective evaluation protocol for the program. Though this case did create a more structured plan pedagogically it did not require bilingual education programs to meet these same standards. "It required only that 'appropriate action to overcome language barriers' be taken through well implemented programs."[25]
The Bilingual Education Act and No Child Left Behind[edit]
No Child Left Behind (NCLB), passed in 2002, had a significant impact on bilingual education and the Bilingual Education Act in the United States due to its emphasis on high-stakes testing. As a result of NCLB and its emphasis on testing, the Bilingual Education Act was renamed the English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement Act.
The name change alone of BEA under NCLB is significant in that it signals a shift in the philosophical approach to bilingual education. Essentially, even though the act still leaves with state and local educators the ability to choose from instructional methods, "the statement of purpose and accountability requirements make clear that the primary objective is English acquisition."[26]
Under NCLB, school success and failure is linked to performance on standardized tests. However, this measure subjects English Language Learners (ELLs) "to critical assessments without adequate preparation."[27] The lack of preparation is due to the fact that NCLB caps funding for bilingual education programs at half of what it had been and does not require that any bilingual education programs undergo periodic evaluation, a measure required by the Castenada v. Pickard court case. And yet, despite this lack of preparation, ELLs performance on standardized tests can jeopardize a school's access to funding. In essence, "This turns the question of whether or not a school receives a failing label into a question of how many ELLs attend."[28] Because the impact of NCLB on ELLs has significant implications on ELLs and their communities' access to education, NCLB is in conflict with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in that it denies "access to a federally funded program based on their skin color or race."[28] The changes in the BEA under NCLB created a grant program that attempted to enhance English language acquisition. The ruling placed ELL students in a similar classroom environment as their peers for whom English is not a second language. The law did not require schools to provide bilingual programs and placed them against the rigorous content standards put in place by State Education Agencies. When ELLs were tested with the same state assessments or the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP), it was shown that compared to their fluently English-speaking peers the ELL students displayed larger deficits in both reading and math. The 2007 NAEP test, showed increased deficits in both math and reading following a surge of the ELL population in the United States. By 2005 the number of English-learners throughout the US had risen to 57% to approximately 5.1 million students.[29]
After NCLB was enacted it was shown that there were sufficient numbers of prospective teachers, yet there were insufficient numbers of these teachers entering certain fields. Among these specializations were science, math, foreign languages, special education and namely bilingual education. Several initiatives formed to specifically recruit teachers to these specialization fields and allowed for alternative certification paths. These teacher shortages continue to exist today and are seen to a greater extent in high-poverty districts.[30]
The act and NCLB say that the accommodations that it provides should be interpreted in concordance with federal civil rights laws. "As interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court, Congress, and federal civil rights officials, these provisions rely on terms like “affirmative steps” and “appropriate action” that give school districts the discretion to use a range of instructional approaches. As a result, under both Title VI and the EEOA, courts and federal enforcement agencies must decide on a case-by-case basis whether programs are in fact overcoming linguistic barriers to full participation."[31] The policy still remains highly debated at both the state and federal level.
See also[edit]
Bilingual education
Intercultural bilingual education
Little School of the 400
Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974
No Child Left Behind Act
References[edit]
Jump up ^ Stewner-Manzanares, Gloria (Fall 1988). "Bilingual Education Act: Twenty Years Later" (PDF). National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education. 6: 1. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
Jump up ^ Petrzela, Natalia M. "Before the Federal Bilingual Education Act: Legislation and Lived Experience in California." Peabody Journal of Education, 85 (2010):408.
Jump up ^ Petrzela, Natalia M. "Before the Federal Bilingual Education Act: Legislation and Lived Experience in California." Peabody Journal of Education, 85 (2010): 414.
Jump up ^ Wiese, Ann-Marie and Eugene E. Garcia. "The Bilingual Education Act: Language Minority Students and Equal Educational Opportunity." Bilingual Research Journal, 22 (1998):3.
Jump up ^ Rodriguez, Armando "Bilingual Education and the Foreign Language Teacher." Paper presented at the National Convention of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (50th, San Antonio, Texas, August 28–30, 1968)., 8 (1968), http://search.proquest.com/docview/64405323
Jump up ^ Petrzela, Natalia M. "Before the Federal Bilingual Act: Legislation and Lived Experience in California." Peadbody Journal of Education, 85: 406, 2010.
Jump up ^ Petrzela, Natalia M. "Before the Federal Bilingual Education Act: Legislation and Lived Experience in California." Peabody Journal of Education, 85 (2010): 411.
Jump up ^ Petrzala, Natalia M. "Before the Federal Bilingual Education Act: Legislation and Lived Experience in California. Peabody Journal of Education, 85: 414.
Jump up ^ Stewner-Manzanares, Gloria (Fall 1988). "Bilingual Education Act: Twenty Years Later" (PDF). National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education. 6: 1. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
Jump up ^ "Developing Programs for English Language Learners: Lau v. Nichols" (PDF). Office for Civil Rights. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
Jump up ^ Stewner-Manzanares, Gloria (Fall 1988). "Bilingual Education Act: Twenty Years Later" (PDF). National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education. 6: 3. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
Jump up ^ Stewner-Manzanares, Gloria (Fall 1988). "Bilingual Education Act: Twenty Years Later" (PDF). National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education. 6: 4. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
Jump up ^ "Chronology of Federal and State Law Impacting Language Minority Students" (PDF).
Jump up ^ Stewner-Manzanares, Gloria (Fall 1988). "Bilingual Education Act: Twenty Years Later" (PDF). National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education. 6: 5. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
^ Jump up to: a b "Chronology of Federal and State Law and Policy Impacting Language Minority Students" (PDF). Retrieved 9 October 2011.
Jump up ^ Stewner-Manzanares, Gloria (Fall 1988). "Bilingual Education Act: Twenty Years Later" (PDF). National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education: 6. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
Jump up ^ Stewner-Kajzajares, Gloria (Fall 1988). "Bilingual Education Act: Twenty Years Later" (PDF). National Clearinghouse for Bilingual Education: 9. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
^ Jump up to: a b Wiese, Ann-Marie (Winter 1998). "The Bilingual Education Act:Language minority students and equal educational opportunity". Bilingual Research Journal: 22. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
Jump up ^ Osorio-O’Dea, Patricia (June 2001). "Bilingual Education: An Overview" (PDF). CRS Report for Congress: 12. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
Jump up ^ Cerda, Natalie (2006), Bilingual Education Legislative Timeline, archived from the original on 20 September 2011, retrieved 11 October 2011
Jump up ^ Walsh, Mark (Jan 8, 2009). "BELLs and the Law: Statues and Precedents". Education Week: 2.
^ Jump up to: a b c Grant, Joseph (1976). "Bilingual Education and the Law: An Overview". Dissemination Center for Bilingual Bicultural Education: 25. Retrieved 11 October 2011.
Jump up ^ Keyes v. School District No.1, Denver, Colorado, 413 U.S. 189|(1973)|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0413_0189_ZS.html%7C n.d. 9 Oct 2011
Jump up ^ Walsh, Mark (Jan 8, 2009). "ELLs and the Law: Statues and Precedents". Education Week: 2.
Jump up ^ Kerper Mora Ed.D, Jill (Jan 26, 2005), LEGAL HISTORY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION: Federal Law, San Diego State University, retrieved 11 October 2011
Jump up ^ Moran, Rachel F. "Bilingual Education Act: Equal Education Opportunities: History, Politics, Theory, and Practice. JRank. JRank. n.d. 9 Oct 2011
Jump up ^ Hilner, Benjamin. "'Bad Policy and Bad Law'": The Shortcomings of the No Child Left Behind Act in Bilingual Educational POlicy and its Frustration of the Equal Protection Clause." Educational Law Consortium Journal. (2005): 4.
^ Jump up to: a b Hilner, Benjamin. "'Bad Policy and Bad Law'": The Shortcomings of the No Child Left Behind Act in Bilingual Educational Policy and its Frustration of the Equal Protection Clause." Educational Law Consortium Journal. (2005): 5.
Jump up ^ Zehr, Mary Ann (8 January 2009). "English-Learners Pose Policy Puzzle". Education Week. 28 (17): 8–9.
Jump up ^ Salinas, Roselia. "TEACHER QUALITY AS A PREDICTOR OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN URBAN SCHOOLS: A NATIONAL FOCUS." Educational Law Consortium Journal. The Lamar University – Electronic Journal of Student Research (2006): 5.
Jump up ^ Moran, Rachel F. (11 Oct 2011). "Bilingual Education Act Equal Educational Opportunities Act, Bilingual Education: History, Politics, Theory, and Practice".
External links[edit]
The Bilingual Education Act: Twenty Years Later
History of Bilingual Education: Rethinking Schools
Equal Educational Opportunities Act, Bilingual Education: History, Policy, Theories and Practice
http://www.educationlawconsortium.org/forum/2005/papers/hillner.pdf
Further reading[edit]
Cordasco, Francesco. "The Bilingual Education Act." The Phi Delta Kappan 51.2: 75. 1969.
Hilner, Benjamin. "'Bad Policy and Bad Law'": The Shortcomings of the No Child Left Behind Act in Bilingual Educational Policy and its Frustration of the Equal Protection Clause." Educational Law Consortium Journal. (2005): 1-22.
Moran, Rachel F. "Bilingual Education Act: Equal Education Opportunities: History, Politics, Theory, and Practice. JRank. JRank. n.d. 9 Oct 2011.
Petrzela, Natalia M. "Before the Federal Bilingual Education Act: Legislation and Lived Experience in California." Peabody Journal of Education 85: 406-424. 2010.
Wiese, Anne-Marie, and Eugene Garcia. "The Bilingual Education Act: Language Minority Students and US Federal Educational Policy." International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism. 4.4. 2010.
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text:
List of longest rivers of the United States (by main stem)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Mississippi drainage basin includes the Missouri and the Mississippi rivers, the two longest main-stem rivers in the United States, as well as 18 more of the rivers on this list. The Mississippi main stem is highlighted in dark blue.
The main stems of 38 rivers in the United States are at least 500 miles (800 km) long. The main stem is "the primary downstream segment of a river, as contrasted to its tributaries".[1] The United States Geological Survey (USGS) defines a main-stem segment by listing coordinates for its two end points, called the source and the mouth. Well-known rivers like the Atchafalaya,[2] Willamette,[3] and Susquehanna[4] are not included in this list because their main stems are shorter than 500 miles.
Seven rivers in this list cross or form international boundaries. Two—the Yukon and Columbia rivers—begin in Canada and flow into the United States. Three—the Milk and Saint Lawrence rivers and the Red River of the North—begin in the United States and flow into Canada. Of these, only the Milk River crosses the international border twice, leaving and then re-entering the United States.[5] Two rivers, the Colorado and the Rio Grande, begin in the United States and flow into or form a border with Mexico.[5] In addition, the drainage basins of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers extend into Canada,[6][7] and the basin of the Gila River extends into Mexico.[8]
Sources report hydrological quantities with varied precision. Biologist and author Ruth Patrick, describing a table of high-discharge U.S. rivers, wrote that data on discharge, drainage area, and length varied widely among authors whose works she consulted. "It seems," she said, "that the wisest course is to regard data tables such as the present one as showing the general ranks of rivers, and not to place too much importance on minor (10–20%) differences in figures."[9]
Contents
[hide]
1 Table
2 Map
3 See also
4 Notes
5 References
6 Works cited
Table[edit]
The primary source for watershed and discharge data in the table below is Rivers of North America. Conflicting data from other sources, if the difference is greater than 10 percent, is reported in the notes. Discharge refers to the flow at the mouth.[n 1] In the "States, provinces, and image" column, the superscripts "s" and "m" indicate "source" and "mouth". Non-U.S. states appear in italics. Except in the "States, provinces, and image" column, abbreviations are as follows: "km" for "kilometer", "mi" for "mile", "s" for "second", "m" for "meter", and "ft" for "foot".
Key
River is not entirely within the United States.
Watershed is not entirely within the United States.
Longest main-stem rivers of the United States
#
Name
Mouth[5]
Length
Source
coordinates[11]
Mouth
coordinates[11]
Watershed
area[12]
Discharge[12]
States, provinces, and image[5][11]
1
Missouri River Mississippi River 7003234100000000000♠2,341 mi
3,768 km[13] 45°55′39″N 111°30′29″W / 45.92750°N 111.50806°W / 45.92750; -111.50806 (Missouri River (source))[14] 38°48′49″N 90°07′11″W / 38.81361°N 90.11972°W / 38.81361; -90.11972 (Missouri River (mouth)) 7005529353000000000♠529,353 mi2
1,371,017 km2[15]
[n 2] 7004691000000000000♠69,100 ft3/s
1,956 m3/s
[n 3] Montanas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missourim
2
Mississippi River Gulf of Mexico 7003220200000000000♠2,202 mi
3,544 km[17]
[n 4] 47°14′22″N 95°12′29″W / 47.23944°N 95.20806°W / 47.23944; -95.20806 (Mississippi River (source))[18] 29°09′04″N 89°15′12″W / 29.15111°N 89.25333°W / 29.15111; -89.25333 (Mississippi River (mouth)) 7006126000000000000♠1,260,000 mi2
3,270,000 km2[19]
[n 5] 7005650000000000000♠650,000 ft3/s
18,400 m3/s Minnesotas, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisianam
3
Yukon River Bering Sea 7003197900000000000♠1,979 mi
3,185 km[6]
[n 6] 59°35′00″N 133°47′00″W / 59.58333°N 133.78333°W / 59.58333; -133.78333 (Yukon River (source))[20] 62°35′55″N 164°48′00″W / 62.59861°N 164.80000°W / 62.59861; -164.80000 (Yukon River (mouth))[21] 7005324000000000000♠324,000 mi2
839,200 km2[22]
[n 7] 7005224000000000000♠224,000 ft3/s
6,340 m3/s British Columbias, Yukon Territory, Alaskam
4
Rio Grande Gulf of Mexico 7003175900000000000♠1,759 mi
2,830 km[23]
[n 8] 37°47′52″N 107°32′18″W / 37.79778°N 107.53833°W / 37.79778; -107.53833 (Rio Grande (source))[25] 25°57′22″N 97°08′43″W / 25.95611°N 97.14528°W / 25.95611; -97.14528 (Rio Grande (mouth)) 7005340000000000000♠340,000 mi2
870,000 km2[26]
[n 9] 7003130000000000000♠1,300 ft3/s
37 m3/s Colorados, New Mexico, Texasm, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Tamaulipasm
5
Colorado River Gulf of California 7003145000000000000♠1,450 mi
2,330 km[16]
[n 10] 40°28′20″N 105°49′34″W / 40.47222°N 105.82611°W / 40.47222; -105.82611 (Colorado River (source))[29] 31°48′57″N 114°48′22″W / 31.81583°N 114.80611°W / 31.81583; -114.80611 (Colorado River (mouth))[30] 7005248000000000000♠248,000 mi2
642,000 km2[10]
[n 11] 7003140000000000000♠1,400 ft3/s
40 m3/s Colorados, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, California, Sonoram, Baja Californiam
6
Arkansas River Mississippi River 7003144300000000000♠1,443 mi
2,322 km
[n 12] 39°15′30″N 106°20′38″W / 39.25833°N 106.34389°W / 39.25833; -106.34389 (Arkansas River (source))[32] 33°46′30″N 91°04′15″W / 33.77500°N 91.07083°W / 33.77500; -91.07083 (Arkansas River (mouth)) 7005160200000000000♠160,200 mi2
414,910 km2[33] 7004355000000000000♠35,500 ft3/s
1,004 m3/s Colorados, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansasm
7
Columbia River Pacific Ocean 7003124300000000000♠1,243 mi[6]
2,000 km
[n 13] 50°13′00″N 115°51′00″W / 50.21667°N 115.85000°W / 50.21667; -115.85000 (Columbia River (source))[34] 46°14′39″N 124°03′29″W / 46.24417°N 124.05806°W / 46.24417; -124.05806 (Columbia River (mouth))[35] 7005279548000000000♠279,548 mi2
724,024 km2[36]
[n 14] 7005273000000000000♠273,000 ft3/s
7,730 m3/s British Columbias, Washingtonm, Oregonm
8
Red River Atchafalaya and Mississippi rivers 7003112500000000000♠1,125 mi
1,811 km
[n 15] 34°34′35″N 99°57′54″W / 34.57639°N 99.96500°W / 34.57639; -99.96500 (Red River (source))[40] 31°01′10″N 91°44′52″W / 31.01944°N 91.74778°W / 31.01944; -91.74778 (Red River (mouth)) 7004655900000000000♠65,590 mi2
169,890 km2[41]
[n 16] 7004301000000000000♠30,100 ft3/s
852 m3/s
[n 17] Oklahomas, Texas, Arkansas, Louisianam
9
Snake River Columbia River 7003104000000000000♠1,040 mi
1,674 km[16] 44°07′49″N 110°13′10″W / 44.13028°N 110.21944°W / 44.13028; -110.21944 (Snake River (source))[42] 46°11′10″N 119°01′43″W / 46.18611°N 119.02861°W / 46.18611; -119.02861 (Snake River (mouth)) 7005108000000000000♠108,000 mi2
281,000 km2[43] 7004553000000000000♠55,300 ft3/s
1,565 m3/s Wyomings, Idaho, Oregon, Washingtonm
10
Ohio River Mississippi River 7002979000000000000♠979 mi
1,575 km[44] 40°26′34″N 80°01′02″W / 40.44278°N 80.01722°W / 40.44278; -80.01722 (Ohio River (source))[45] 36°59′12″N 89°07′50″W / 36.98667°N 89.13056°W / 36.98667; -89.13056 (Ohio River (mouth)) 7005204000000000000♠204,000 mi2
529,000 km2[46] 7005308400000000000♠308,400 ft3/s
8,733 m3/s Pennsylvanias, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, Kentuckym
11
Colorado River of Texas Gulf of Mexico 7002970000000000000♠970 mi
1,560 km[47] 32°40′47″N 101°43′51″W / 32.67972°N 101.73083°W / 32.67972; -101.73083 (Colorado River of Texas (source)))[48] 28°35′41″N 95°58′59″W / 28.59472°N 95.98306°W / 28.59472; -95.98306 (Colorado River of Texas (mouth)) 7004399000000000000♠39,900 mi2
103,341 km2[49] 7003260000000000000♠2,600 ft3/s
75 m3/s Texass, m
12
Tennessee River Ohio River 7002935000000000000♠935 mi
1,504 km[50] 35°57′33″N 83°51′01″W / 35.95917°N 83.85028°W / 35.95917; -83.85028 (Tennessee River (source))[51] 37°04′02″N 88°33′53″W / 37.06722°N 88.56472°W / 37.06722; -88.56472 (Tennessee River (mouth)) 7004408800000000000♠40,880 mi2
105,870 km2[52] 7004710000000000000♠71,000 ft3/s
2,000 m3/s Tennessees, Alabama, Kentuckym
13
Canadian River Arkansas River 7002906000000000000♠906 mi
1,458 km[16] 37°01′11″N 105°04′33″W / 37.01972°N 105.07583°W / 37.01972; -105.07583 (Canadian River (source))[53] 35°27′12″N 95°01′58″W / 35.45333°N 95.03278°W / 35.45333; -95.03278 (Canadian River (mouth)) 7004471300000000000♠47,130 mi2
122,070 km2[54] 7003610000000000000♠6,100 ft3/s
174 m3/s Colorados, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahomam
14
Brazos River Gulf of Mexico 7002860000000000000♠860 mi
1,390 km[55] 33°16′07″N 100°00′37″W / 33.26861°N 100.01028°W / 33.26861; -100.01028 (Brazos River (source))[56] 28°52′33″N 95°22′42″W / 28.87583°N 95.37833°W / 28.87583; -95.37833 (Brazos River (mouth)) 7004446200000000000♠44,620 mi2
115,566 km2[57] 7003880000000000000♠8,800 ft3/s
249 m3/s Texass, m
15
Green River Colorado River 7002760000000000000♠760 mi
1,230 km[58] 43°09′13″N 109°40′18″W / 43.15361°N 109.67167°W / 43.15361; -109.67167 (Green River (source))[59] 38°11′21″N 109°53′07″W / 38.18917°N 109.88528°W / 38.18917; -109.88528 (Green River (mouth)) 7004449000000000000♠44,900 mi2
116,200 km2[60] 7003610000000000000♠6,100 ft3/s
172 m3/s Wyomings, Colorado, Utahm
16
Pecos River Rio Grande 7002730000000000000♠730 mi
1,175 km[61] 35°58′34″N 105°33′29″W / 35.97611°N 105.55806°W / 35.97611; -105.55806 (Pecos River (source))[62] 29°41′59″N 101°22′17″W / 29.69972°N 101.37139°W / 29.69972; -101.37139 (Pecos River (mouth)) 7004440000000000000♠44,000 mi2
113,960 km2[63] 7001710000000000000♠71 ft3/s
2 m3/s New Mexicos, Texasm
17
White River (Arkansas) Mississippi River 7002720000000000000♠720 mi
1,159 km[64] 35°50′20″N 93°36′16″W / 35.83889°N 93.60444°W / 35.83889; -93.60444 (White River (source))[65] 33°57′05″N 91°04′53″W / 33.95139°N 91.08139°W / 33.95139; -91.08139 (White River (mouth)) 7004278720000000000♠27,872 mi2
72,189 km2[66] 7004346000000000000♠34,600 ft3/s
979 m3/s Arkansass, m, Missouri
18
James River
[n 18] Missouri River 7002710000000000000♠710 mi
1,140 km[67] 47°28′53″N 99°51′32″W / 47.48139°N 99.85889°W / 47.48139; -99.85889 (James River (source))[68] 42°52′17″N 97°17′26″W / 42.87139°N 97.29056°W / 42.87139; -97.29056 (James River (mouth)) 7004209420000000000♠20,942 mi2
54,240 km2[69] 7002854000000000000♠854 ft3/s
24.2 m3/s[69]
[n 19] North Dakotas, South Dakotam
19
Kuskokwim River Bering Sea 7002702000000000000♠702 mi
1,130 km[70] 63°05′16″N 154°38′33″W / 63.08778°N 154.64250°W / 63.08778; -154.64250 (Kuskokwim River (source))[71] 60°04′59″N 162°20′02″W / 60.08306°N 162.33389°W / 60.08306; -162.33389 (Kuskokwim River (mouth)) 7004480000000000000♠48,000 mi2
124,319 km2[72] 7004670000000000000♠67,000 ft3s
1,900 m3/s Alaskas, m
20
Cimarron River Arkansas River 7002698000000000000♠698 mi
1,123 km[73] 36°54′24″N 102°59′12″W / 36.90667°N 102.98667°W / 36.90667; -102.98667 ("Cimarron River (source))[74] 36°10′14″N 96°16′19″W / 36.17056°N 96.27194°W / 36.17056; -96.27194 (Cimarron River (mouth)) 7004195100000000000♠19,510 mi2
50,540 km2[75] 7003150000000000000♠1,500 ft3/s
42 m3/s Oklahomas, m, Colorado, Kansas
21
Cumberland River Ohio River 7002696000000000000♠696 mi
1,120 km[76] 36°50′42″N 83°19′26″W / 36.84500°N 83.32389°W / 36.84500; -83.32389 (Cumberland River (source))[77] 37°08′36″N 88°24′27″W / 37.14333°N 88.40750°W / 37.14333; -88.40750 (Cumberland River (mouth)) 7004179300000000000♠17,930 mi2
46,430 km2[78] 7004304000000000000♠30,400 ft3/s
862 m3/s
Kentuckys, m, Tennessee
22
Yellowstone River Missouri River 7002678000000000000♠678 mi
1,091 km[79] 43°59′18″N 109°55′45″W / 43.98833°N 109.92917°W / 43.98833; -109.92917 (Yellowstone River (source))[80] 47°58′42″N 103°58′56″W / 47.97833°N 103.98222°W / 47.97833; -103.98222 (Yellowstone River (mouth)) 7004704000000000000♠70,400 mi2
182,336 km2[81] 7004128000000000000♠12,800 ft3/s
362 m3/s Wyomings, Montana, North Dakotam
23
North Platte River Platte River 7002665000000000000♠665 mi
1,070 km[82] 40°38′23″N 106°24′19″W / 40.63972°N 106.40528°W / 40.63972; -106.40528 (North Platte River (source))[83] 41°06′50″N 100°40′33″W / 41.11389°N 100.67583°W / 41.11389; -100.67583 (North Platte River (mouth)) 7004348850000000000♠34,885 mi2
90,352 km2[82] 7002770000000000000♠770 ft3/s
21.9 m3/s Colorados, Wyoming, Nebraskam
24
Milk River Missouri River 7002625000000000000♠625 mi
1,005 km[6] [n 20] 48°51′20″N 113°01′10″W / 48.85556°N 113.01944°W / 48.85556; -113.01944 (Milk River (source))[85] 48°03′26″N 106°19′07″W / 48.05722°N 106.31861°W / 48.05722; -106.31861 (Milk River (mouth)) 7004223320000000000♠22,332 mi2
57,839 km2[86]
[n 21] 7002670000000000000♠670 ft3/s
18.9 m3/s Alberta, Montanas, m
25
Ouachita River Black River 7002605000000000000♠605 mi
974 km[87] 31°41′56″N 94°19′57″W / 31.69889°N 94.33250°W / 31.69889; -94.33250 (Ouachita River (source))[88] 31°37′53″N 91°48′25″W / 31.63139°N 91.80694°W / 31.63139; -91.80694 (Ouachita River (mouth)) 7004248860000000000♠24,886 mi2
64,454 km2[89] 7004298000000000000♠29,800 ft3/s
843 m3/s Arkansass, Louisianam
26
Saint Lawrence River Gulf of Saint Lawrence 7002600000000000000♠600 mi
965 km[90]
[n 22] 44°05′55″N 76°23′28″W / 44.09861°N 76.39111°W / 44.09861; -76.39111 (St. Lawrence River (source))[92] 49°40′00″N 64°30′00″W / 49.66667°N 64.50000°W / 49.66667; -64.50000 (Saint Lawrence River (mouth))[93] 7005620000000000000♠620,000 mi2
1,600,000 km2[94]
[n 23] 7005440000000000000♠440,000 ft3/s
12,600 m3/s
[n 24] New Yorks, Ontarios, Quebecm
27
Gila River Colorado River 7002600000000000000♠600 mi
960 km[95] 33°10′47″N 108°12′22″W / 33.17972°N 108.20611°W / 33.17972; -108.20611 (Gila River (source))[96] 32°43′11″N 114°33′19″W / 32.71972°N 114.55528°W / 32.71972; -114.55528 (Gila River (mouth)) 7004578500000000000♠57,850 mi2
149,832 km2[97]
[n 25] 7002210000000000000♠210 ft3/s
6 m3/s
[n 26] New Mexicos, Arizonam
28
Sheyenne River Red River of the North 7002591000000000000♠591 mi
951 km[98] 47°41′46″N 100°29′52″W / 47.69611°N 100.49778°W / 47.69611; -100.49778 (Sheyenne River (source))[99] 47°01′25″N 96°49′31″W / 47.02361°N 96.82528°W / 47.02361; -96.82528 (Sheyenne River (mouth)) 7003880000000000000♠8,800 mi2
23,000 km2
[n 27] 7002288000000000000♠288 ft3/s
8.2 m3/s
[n 28] North Dakotas, m
29
Tanana River Yukon River 7002584000000000000♠584 mi
940 km
[n 29] 63°02′57″N 141°51′52″W / 63.04917°N 141.86444°W / 63.04917; -141.86444 (Tanana River (source))[103] 65°09′38″N 151°57′37″W / 65.16056°N 151.96028°W / 65.16056; -151.96028 (Tanana River (mouth)) 7004440000000000000♠44,000 mi2
114,000 km2[104] 7004418000000000000♠41,800 ft3/s
1,185 m3/s Alaskas, m
30
Smoky Hill River Kansas River 7002576000000000000♠576 mi
927 km[98] 38°57′01″N 102°34′49″W / 38.95028°N 102.58028°W / 38.95028; -102.58028 (Smoky Hill River (source))[105] 39°03′36″N 96°48′04″W / 39.06000°N 96.80111°W / 39.06000; -96.80111 (Smoky Hill (mouth)) 7004192600000000000♠19,260 mi2
49,900 km2
[n 30] 7003154200000000000♠1,542 ft3/s
43.7 m3/s
[n 31] Colorados, Kansasm
31
Niobrara River Missouri River 7002568000000000000♠568 mi
914 km[98] 42°49′15″N 104°38′50″W / 42.82083°N 104.64722°W / 42.82083; -104.64722 (Niobrara River (source))[107] 42°45′58″N 98°02′50″W / 42.76611°N 98.04722°W / 42.76611; -98.04722 (Niobrara River (mouth)) 7004126000000000000♠12,600 mi2
32,600 km2[108] 7003170000000000000♠1,700 ft3/s
49 m3/s Wyomings, Nebraskam
32
Little Missouri River Missouri River 7002560000000000000♠560 mi
900 km[109] 44°32′25″N 104°59′57″W / 44.54028°N 104.99917°W / 44.54028; -104.99917 ("Little Missouri River (source))[110] 47°36′38″N 102°52′24″W / 47.61056°N 102.87333°W / 47.61056; -102.87333 (Little Missouri River (mouth)) 7003831000000000000♠8,310 mi2
21,500 km2[111]
[n 32] 7002450000000000000♠450 ft3/s
13 m3/s[111]
[n 33] Wyomings, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakotam
33
Sabine River Gulf of Mexico 7002553000000000000♠553 mi
890 km[112] 32°48′29″N 95°55′14″W / 32.80806°N 95.92056°W / 32.80806; -95.92056 (Sabine River (source))[113] 29°59′08″N 93°47′26″W / 29.98556°N 93.79056°W / 29.98556; -93.79056 (Sabine River (mouth)) 7003975600000000000♠9,756 mi2
25,268 km2[114] 7003840000000000000♠8,400 ft3/s
238 m3/s Texass, Louisianam
34
Red River of the North Lake Winnipeg 7002550000000000000♠550 mi
890 km[115]
[n 34] 46°15′52″N 96°35′55″W / 46.26444°N 96.59861°W / 46.26444; -96.59861 (Red River of the North (source))[117] 50°23′47″N 96°48′39″W / 50.39639°N 96.81083°W / 50.39639; -96.81083 (Red River (mouth))[118] 7005111000000000000♠111,000 mi2
287,500 km2[119]
[n 35] 7003830000000000000♠8,300 ft3/s
236 m3/s North Dakotas, Minnesotas, Manitobam
35
Des Moines River Mississippi River 7002525000000000000♠525 mi
845 km[120] 44°05′02″N 95°41′17″W / 44.08389°N 95.68806°W / 44.08389; -95.68806 (Des Moines (source))[121] 41°22′52″N 91°25′21″W / 41.38111°N 91.42250°W / 41.38111; -91.42250 (Des Moines River (mouth)) 7004120180000000000♠12,018 mi2
31,127 km2[122] 7003640000000000000♠6,400 ft3/s
182 m3/s Minnesotas, Missouri, Iowam
36
White River (Missouri River) Missouri River 7002506000000000000♠506 mi
815 km[123] 42°41′10″N 103°50′14″W / 42.68611°N 103.83722°W / 42.68611; -103.83722 (White River (source))[124] 43°42′50″N 99°28′01″W / 43.71389°N 99.46694°W / 43.71389; -99.46694 (White River (mouth)) 7004102000000000000♠10,200 mi2
26,418 km2[125] 7002570000000000000♠570 ft3/s
16 m3/s Nebraskas, South Dakotam
37
Trinity River Galveston Bay 7002506000000000000♠506 mi
815 km[126] 32°47′54″N 96°53′52″W / 32.79833°N 96.89778°W / 32.79833; -96.89778 (Trinity River (source))[127] 29°44′35″N 94°42′12″W / 29.74306°N 94.70333°W / 29.74306; -94.70333 (Trinity River (mouth)) 7004179700000000000♠17,970 mi2
46,540 km2[128] 7003780000000000000♠7,800 ft3/s
222 m3/s Texass, m
38
Wabash River Ohio River 7002503000000000000♠503 mi
810 km[98] 40°21′07″N 84°45′57″W / 40.35194°N 84.76583°W / 40.35194; -84.76583 (Wabash River (source))[129] 37°47′53″N 88°01′38″W / 37.79806°N 88.02722°W / 37.79806; -88.02722 (Wabash River (mouth)) 7004329500000000000♠32,950 mi2
85,340 km2[130]</ref> 7003100100000000000♠1,001 ft3/s
28 m3/s Ohios, Indianam, Illinoism
Map[edit]
Map of North America showing all rivers on this list
See also[edit]
List of longest rivers in the United States by state
Notes[edit]
Jump up ^ Dams, diversions for agriculture, and other human alterations to rivers have greatly affected the discharge of some rivers over time. For example, the virgin discharge of the Colorado River is estimated to have been 20,000 ft3/s (566 m3/s) compared to 1,400 ft3/s (~40 m3/s) in 2005.[10]
Jump up ^ Of the total, 10,700 mi2 (28,000 km2), about two percent of the basin, is in Canada.[6][7]
Jump up ^ Kammerer: 76,200 ft3/s (2,160 m3/s).[16]
Jump up ^ Kammerer: 2,340 mi (3,770 km).[16] The Atlas of Canada: 2,348 mi (3,779 km).[6]
Jump up ^ Of the total, 10,700 mi2 (27,800 km2), about two percent of the basin, is in Canada.[6][7]
Jump up ^ Of this total, 714 mi (1,149 km) are in Canada. This amounts to about 36 percent of the main-stem length.[6]
Jump up ^ The Atlas of Canada also lists the total basin size at 324,000 mi2 (839,200 km2), split between 125,000 mi2 (323,800 km2), about 39 percent, in Canada and 199,000 mi2 (515,400 km2), about 61 percent, in the United States.[6]
Jump up ^ Kammerer: 1,900 mi (3,100 km).[16] University of Texas (UT): 1,799 mi (2,895 km).[24] The river forms the U.S.–Mexico border for 1.251 mi (2,013 km) (about 70 percent of its main-stem length) from El Paso to the Gulf of Mexico.[24]
Jump up ^ Rivers of North America says that of this total only about 170,000 mi2 (450,000 km2) of the basin contribute water to the river.[26] The University of Texas (UT) says, "The river collects rain, snowmelt and spring water from an area [of] about 215,338 mi2 [557,722 km2] including closed basins."[24] It says that 87,020 mi2 (225,380 km2) of the basin (about 48 percent), not counting closed basins, are in Mexico, while 93,821 mi2 (242,994 km2) (about 52 percent) are in the United States.[24] Kammerer cites a total basin size of 336,000 mi2 (870,000 km2).[16]
Jump up ^ According to the Utah Division of Water Resources, 75 mi (121 km) of the river are in Mexico. This amounts to about 5 percent of the main-stem length.[27] Of this, 17 mi (27 km) form the border between Mexico and the United States.[28]
Jump up ^ The United Nations Environment Programme cites a total basin size of 246,000 mi2 (637,000 km2), split between 2,000 mi2 (5,200 km2) (about 1 percent) in Mexico and 244,000 mi2 (632,000 km2) (about 99 percent) in the United States.[28]
Jump up ^ Derived by subtracting the length of the East Fork Arkansas River of roughly 16 mi (26 km)[31] from Kammerer's total of 1,459 mi (2,348 km).[16]
Jump up ^ About 498 mi (801 km) are in Canada.[6] This amounts to about 40 percent of the main-stem length.
Jump up ^ The Atlas of Canada lists the total watershed at 259,200 mi2 (671,300 km2), split between 39,700 mi2 (102,800 km2) (about 15 percent) in Canada and 219,500 mi2 (568,500 km2) (about 85 percent) in the United States.[6] Kammerer's figure for the total watershed is 265,000 mi2 (690,000 km2).[16]
Jump up ^ This is the combined length, 1,360 mi (2,190 km),[37] of the main stem, Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River, and Tierra Blanca Creek minus the lengths of the latter two, 160 mi (260 km)[38] and 75 mi (121 km).[39] Kammerer gives the length as 1,290 mi (2,080 km).[16]
Jump up ^ Kammerer: 93,200 mi2.[16]
Jump up ^ Kammerer: 56,000 ft3/s (1,600 m3)[16]
Jump up ^ Also known as the Dakota River or Jim River and not to be confused with the James River of Virginia.
Jump up ^ This is the average discharge for the years 1982–94, derived by adding the discharge for each of these years and dividing by 13.
Jump up ^ According to The Canadian Encyclopedia, a 110-mi (170 km) stretch of the river flows through Canada. This amounts to about 18 percent of the main-stem length.[84]
Jump up ^ The Atlas of Canada: 23,600 mi2 (61,200 km2) split between 8,300 mi2 (21,600 km2) (about 35 percent) in Canada and 15,300 mi2 (39,600 km2) (about 65 percent) in the United States.[6]
Jump up ^ According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a 115-mi (185 km) stretch of the river forms part of the U.S.–Canada border. This amounts to about 19 percent of the main-stem length.[91]
Jump up ^ Kammerer: 396,000 mi2 (1,030,000 km2).[16] The Atlas of Canada: 519,000 mi2 (1,344,200 km2), of which 324,000 mi2 (839,200 km2) (about 62 percent) is in Canada and 195,000 mi2 (505,000 km2) (about 38 percent) is in the United States.[6]
Jump up ^ Kammerer: 348,000 ft3/s (9,900 m3/s).[16]
Jump up ^ Of this total, 232 mi2 (600 km2) (about 0.4 percent) are in the Mexican state of Sonora, and the rest is in the United States.[8]
Jump up ^ Rivers of North America describes the discharge as less than 210 ft3/s (6 m3/s.
Jump up ^ This is the size of the basin upstream of a stream gauge near Kindred and at river mile 67.9 (river kilometer 109.3).[100]
Jump up ^ This is the average flow measured by a stream gauge near Kindred and at river mile 67.9 (river kilometer 109.3).[100]
Jump up ^ The main-stem length is calculated by subtracting the length of the Nabesna River from Kammerer's total of 659 mi (1,061 km).[16] The Nabesna River is roughly 75 mi (121 km) long, calculated by adding the 60 mi (97 km) from the Nabesna mouth to Camp Creek[101] to the distance, 15 mi (24 km), from Camp Creek to Nabesna Glacier,[102] Kammerer's most remote source for the Tanana.
Jump up ^ Reflects only that part of the basin above a stream gauge at river mile 43.3 (river kilometer 69.7) near Enterprise.[106]
Jump up ^ Measured by a stream gauge at river mile 43.3 (river kilometer 69.7) near Enterprise.[106]
Jump up ^ This is only a close approximation of the entire basin. It does not include a small fraction of the basin below the river gauge, located about 25 mi (40 km) upstream of the river mouth.
Jump up ^ This is the average discharge for the years 1990–2010, derived by adding the discharge for each of these years and dividing by 21.
Jump up ^ According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 394 mi (634 km) are in the United States. This amounts to about 72 percent of the main-stem length.[116]
Jump up ^ Of the total basin, 53,500 mi2 (138,600 km2) (about 48 percent) are in Canada and 57,500 mi2 (148,900 km2) (about 52 percent) are in the United States.[6]
References[edit]
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 1137.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 236.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 615.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 50.
^ Jump up to: a b c d The Road Atlas. Chicago, Illinois: Rand McNally & Company. 2008. ISBN 978-0-528-93961-7.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Rivers". The Atlas of Canada. Natural Resources Canada. Archived from the original on April 4, 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
^ Jump up to: a b c "Missouri River Basin Basic Geography and Natural Features". United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
^ Jump up to: a b McCord, Marc W. "Gila River". Wind Spirit Community. Archived from the original on March 3, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
Jump up ^ Patrick 1995, p. 24.
^ Jump up to: a b Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 527.
^ Jump up to: a b c The mouth coordinates and source coordinates are from the Geographic Names Information System (United States Geological Survey) or the Canadian Geographical Names Data Base except for the coordinates of the mouth of the Colorado River, derived by geolocating with Google Earth.
^ Jump up to: a b From Rivers of North America (ed. Benke and Cushing) unless otherwise noted.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 432.
Jump up ^ "Missouri River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. October 24, 1980. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 469.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Kammerer, J. C. (September 1, 2005). "Largest Rivers in the United States". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, pp. 237, 331.
Jump up ^ "Mississippi River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. June 4, 1980. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 272.
Jump up ^ "Atlin Lake (B.C.)". Natural Resources Canada. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
Jump up ^ "Yukon River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. March 31, 1981. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 796.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 186.
^ Jump up to: a b c d Patino, Carlos; McKinney, Daene C.; Maidment, David R. "Water Management Information System for the Rio Grande/Bravo Basin". University of Texas Center for Research in Water Resources. Archived from the original on April 1, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
Jump up ^ "Rio Grande". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. March 30, 1979. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
^ Jump up to: a b Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 220.
Jump up ^ Anderson, D. Larry (May 2002). "Utah's Perspective: The Colorado River" (PDF). p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 9, 2014. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
^ Jump up to: a b Arias, E.; Albar, M.; Parra, I; Reza, M. "Regional Definition" (PDF). United Nations Environment Programme. pp. 20–21. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 31, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
Jump up ^ "Colorado River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. February 8, 1980. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
Jump up ^ Derived via Google Earth
Jump up ^ Colorado Atlas and Gazetteer (Map). DeLorme. 1998. § 47–48. ISBN 978-0-89933-265-9.
Jump up ^ "Arkansas River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. November 30, 1979. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 315.
Jump up ^ "Columbia Lake". Natural Resources Canada. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
Jump up ^ "Columbia River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. November 28, 1980. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 646.
Jump up ^ Kleiner, Diana J. "Handbook of Texas: Red River". Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original on December 23, 2015. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
Jump up ^ "Handbook of Texas: Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River". Texas State Historical Association. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
Jump up ^ "Handbook of Texas: Tierra Blanca Creek". Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved February 18, 2011.
Jump up ^ "Red River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. June 4, 1980. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 317.
Jump up ^ "Snake River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. September 10, 1979. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 643.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 379.
Jump up ^ "Ohio River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. October 24, 1980. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 413.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 198.
Jump up ^ "Colorado River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. November 30, 1979. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 222.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 384.
Jump up ^ "Tennessee River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. September 20, 1979. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 414.
Jump up ^ "Canadian River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. December 18, 1979. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 316.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 203.
Jump up ^ "Brazos River". Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). United States Geological Survey. November 30, 1979. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 223.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 497.
Jump up ^ "Green River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). December 31, 1979. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 528.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 213.
Jump up ^ "Pecos River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). November 30, 1979. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 225.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 246.
Jump up ^ "White River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). April 30, 1980. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 273.
Jump up ^ "River Facts". American Rivers. Archived from the original on March 10, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
Jump up ^ "James River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). February 13, 1980. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
^ Jump up to: a b "USGS 06478513 James River near Yankton, SD". United States Geological Survey. November 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 741.
Jump up ^ "Kuskokwim River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). January 1, 2000. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 764.
Jump up ^ "Cimarron River". Oklahoma Historical Society. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
Jump up ^ "Cimarron River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). December 18, 1979. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 319.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 390.
Jump up ^ "Cumberland River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). September 20, 1979. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 415.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 440.
Jump up ^ "Yellowstone River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). February 13, 1980. Retrieved January 20, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 470.
^ Jump up to: a b Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 451.
Jump up ^ "North Platte River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). October 13, 1978. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
Jump up ^ Marsh, James H. (March 4, 2015). "Milk River". Historica Canada. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
Jump up ^ "Milk River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). April 4, 1980. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 475.
Jump up ^ Benke and Cushing, p. 265
Jump up ^ "Ouachita River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). January 1, 2000. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 279.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 987.
Jump up ^ "St. Lawrence River (International Section)". U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
Jump up ^ "St. Lawrence River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). January 1, 2000. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
Jump up ^ "Saint Lawrence River". Natural Resources Canada. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 983.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 511.
Jump up ^ "Gila River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). February 8, 1980. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 531.
^ Jump up to: a b c d "National Hydrography Dataset". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
Jump up ^ "Sheyenne River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). February 13, 1980. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
^ Jump up to: a b "Water-Data Report 2010: 05059000 Sheyenne River near Kindred, ND" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
Jump up ^ Irwin, Thomas (October 3, 2005). "Recordable Disclaimer of Interest Application for the Nabesna River" (PDF). U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 19, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
Jump up ^ Alaska Atlas and Gazetteer (Map) (7th ed.). DeLorme. 2010. p. 98. ISBN 0-89933-289-7.
Jump up ^ "Tanana River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). January 1, 2000. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 797.
Jump up ^ "Smoky Hill River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). October 13, 1978. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
^ Jump up to: a b "Water-Data Report 2010: 06877600 Smoky Hill River at Enterprise, KS" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
Jump up ^ "Niobrara River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). March 9, 1979. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 478.
Jump up ^ Personius, Robert Giles; Eddy, Samuel (February 18, 1955). "Fishes of the Little Missouri River". Copeia. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. 1955 (1): 41. doi:10.2307/1439450.
Jump up ^ "Little Missouri River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). February 13, 1980. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
^ Jump up to: a b "USGS 06337000 Little Missouri River near Watford City, ND". November 2010. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 208.
Jump up ^ "Sabine River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). June 4, 1980. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 224.
Jump up ^ "Red River of the North". Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
Jump up ^ "Red River of the North: A Water Trail Guide" (PDF). Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 2010. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
Jump up ^ "Red River of the North". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). January 1, 2000. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
Jump up ^ "Red River". Natural Resources Canada. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved January 17, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 896.
Jump up ^ "National Recreation Trails: Des Moines River Water Trail - Polk County, Iowa". American Trails. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
Jump up ^ "Des Moines River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). April 30, 1979. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 372.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 445.
Jump up ^ "White River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). February 13, 1980. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 471.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 215.
Jump up ^ "Trinity River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). November 30, 1979. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 227.
Jump up ^ "Wabash River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey (USGS). February 14, 1979. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
Jump up ^ Benke & Cushing 2005, p. 396.
Works cited[edit]
Benke, Arthur C.; Cushing, Colbert E. (2005). Rivers of North America. Burlington, Massachusetts: Elsevier Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-12-088253-3.
Patrick, Ruth (1995). Rivers of the United States: Volume II: Chemical and Physical Characteristics. New York: John Wiley & Sons. p. 24. ISBN 978-0-471-10752-1.
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