List of rivers of Switzerland

Map of Switzerland showing major lakes and rivers

The following is a list of rivers (or tributaries thereof) that are at least partially located in Switzerland. Swiss rivers belong to five drainage basins: Rhine, Rhône, Po, Danube and Adige, of which only the Rhine and Rhône flow through Switzerland (and also originate there). The waters therefore drain into either the North Sea, Mediterranean or Black Sea.

Below, rivers are grouped by length, drainage area, orography and in alphabetical order. A list of border rivers is also given.

Rivers by length[edit]

(> 100 km, counting only the length in Switzerland)

Rank River Length
1 Rhine 375 km
2 Aare (or Aar) 295 km
3 Rhône 264 km
4 Reuss 158 km
4 Linth and Limmat together[i] 140 km
5 Thur 135 km
6 Saane/La Sarine[ii] 128 km

Rivers by drainage area[edit]

Saane/La Sarine at Fribourg

(> 1000 km2, counting only the area in Switzerland)

Rank River Length Drainage area
1 Rhine 375 km 36,494 km2
2 Aare (or Aar) 295 km 17,779 km2
3 Rhône 264 km 10,403 km2
4 Reuss 158 km 3,425 km2
5 Orbe and Thielle together 118 km 2,672 km2
6 Linth and Limmat together 140 km 2,416 km2
7 Inn 104 km 2,150 km2
8 Saane/La Sarine 128 km 1,892 km2
9 Thur 135 km 1,696 km2
10 Hinterrhein (Posterior Rhine) 57.3 km 1,693 km2
11 Ticino 91 km 1,616 km2
12 Vorderrhein (Anterior Rhine) 67.5 km 1,514 km2
13 Doubs 74 km 1,310 km2
14 Kander 44 km 1,126 km2

Rivers by orography[edit]

Further information: Hydrology of Switzerland
The five river basins of Switzerland:
  Rhine with Aar sub-basin
  Rhone
  Po
  Danube
  Adige
High Rhine and Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen
The Aare at Bern
The Birs at Laufen
The Reuss in Bremgarten
Saane in Fribourg
Confluence of the Urnäsch and Sitter
Tamina Gorge near Bad Ragaz
Landwasser with Landwasser Viaduct
Le Doubs in Saint-Ursanne
Confluence of the Rhône and Arve in Geneva
Verzasca river and valley
Rom near Lü
Inn in Engadin

Switzerland is drained into four directions:

Drainage basins[edit]

Witenwasserenstock mountain is the triple divide of the drainage basins between the Rhine, Rhône and Po. Lunghin Pass is the triple divide between the Rhine, Danube and Po.

Rivers that flow into other rivers are sorted by the proximity of their points of confluence to the sea (the lower in the list, the more upstream). Some rivers (e.g. Danube) do not flow through Switzerland themselves, but they are mentioned for having Swiss tributaries. They are given in italics. The five drainage basins are highlighted in bold.

Border rivers[edit]

National[edit]

Cantonal[edit]

Alphabetical list[edit]

A–E[edit]

F–K[edit]

L–O[edit]

P–S[edit]

T–Z[edit]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ The Linth is the main tributary of Lake Zurich and the Limmat the lake's outflow.
  2. ^ The river is called Sarine in French and Saane in German.
  3. ^ Prior to the regulation of the Linth (1807–1823), the river did not flow into Lake Walen but joined the River Maag, the outflow of Lake Walen, west of the lake.
  4. ^ The river is called Sure in the Luzern and Suhre in Aargau.
  5. ^ The Thielle begins at the confluence of the rivers Orbe and Talent.
  6. ^ The Wutach flows mostly through Germany, but for about 6 km (3.7 mi) it forms the Germany–Switzerland border.

References[edit]

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rivers of Switzerland.
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