List of rivers of Switzerland facts for kids

Map of lakes and rivers of Switzerland

Switzerland is a country known for its beautiful mountains, but it also has many important rivers! These rivers are like the country's natural highways, carrying water from the mountains and lakes across the land. They are super important for nature, for people, and even for making electricity. Let's explore some of Switzerland's most famous rivers.

Longest Rivers in Switzerland

When we talk about the longest rivers, we only count the part of the river that flows within Switzerland. Here are some of the longest ones:

• Rhine - This mighty river flows for about 375 kilometers (233 miles) in Switzerland. It covers a huge area of land, about 36,494 square kilometers (14,090 square miles).
• Aare (or Aar) - The Aare is 295 kilometers (183 miles) long in Switzerland. It's a very important river that flows through many Swiss cities.
• Rhône - This river travels about 264 kilometers (164 miles) through Switzerland. It starts in the Swiss Alps and flows all the way to the Mediterranean Sea.
• Reuss - The Reuss is 158 kilometers (98 miles) long.
• Linth and Limmat - These two rivers are connected and together they are about 140 kilometers (87 miles) long.
• Saane/La Sarine - This river is 128 kilometers (80 miles) long.
• Thur - The Thur river flows for 125 kilometers (78 miles).

Rivers by Drainage Area

The Saane/La Sarine river near Fribourg.

A river's drainage area (also called a watershed or basin) is all the land where rain and melting snow flow into that river. Think of it like a giant funnel where all the water eventually ends up in one main river. Here are the rivers with the largest drainage areas in Switzerland:

• Rhine - Its drainage area in Switzerland is about 36,494 square kilometers (14,090 square miles).
• Aare - This river has a drainage area of 17,779 square kilometers (6,865 square miles).
• Rhône - Its drainage area is 10,403 square kilometers (4,017 square miles).
• Reuss - The Reuss covers 3,425 square kilometers (1,322 square miles).
• Linth / Limmat - Their combined drainage area is 2,416 square kilometers (933 square miles).
• Inn - The Inn river has a drainage area of 2,150 square kilometers (830 square miles) in Switzerland.
• Saane/La Sarine - This river's drainage area is 1,892 square kilometers (731 square miles).
• Thur - The Thur river covers 1,724 square kilometers (666 square miles).
• Ticino - Its drainage area is 1,616 square kilometers (624 square miles).
• Hinterrhein - This river has a drainage area of 1,693 square kilometers (654 square miles).
• Vorderrhein - Its drainage area is 1,514 square kilometers (585 square miles).
• Doubs - The Doubs river covers 1,310 square kilometers (506 square miles).
• Kander - This river has a drainage area of 1,126 square kilometers (435 square miles).

Where Swiss Rivers Flow

The five main river basins of Switzerland. The orange colors show the Rhine basin (with the Aar sub-basin). Yellow is the Rhone basin. Light green is the Po basin. Purple is the Danube basin. Dark green is the Adige basin.

The Aare river flowing through Bern, the capital city of Switzerland.

Switzerland is unique because its rivers flow in four different directions, eventually reaching four different seas!

• North Sea: Many rivers, like the Rhine, flow north and eventually reach the North Sea.
• Mediterranean Sea: The Rhône river flows west and then south, ending up in the Mediterranean Sea.
• Adriatic Sea: Some rivers, like the Ticino, flow south into Italy and join rivers like the Po or Adige, which then reach the Adriatic Sea.
• Black Sea: The Inn river flows east into Austria and Germany, joining the Danube river, which eventually reaches the Black Sea.

Here are some of the main rivers and their important branches:

• Rhine River
  • The Rhine is the most important river in Switzerland. Many other rivers flow into it.
    • Aare River: This is a major river that joins the Rhine.
      • Linth / Limmat: These rivers flow into the Aare.

* Sihl: A river that flows into the Limmat in Zürich.

• • • • Reuss River: Another important river that joins the Aare.

* Kleine Emme: A smaller river that flows into the Reuss.

• • • Birs River: This river joins the Rhine near Basel.
      

      The Birs river at Laufen.
    • Thur River: This river also flows into the Rhine.
    • Alpine Rhine: This is the part of the Rhine that starts high in the Alps.
      • Hinterrhein and Vorderrhein: These two rivers come together to form the Alpine Rhine.

• Rhône River
  • The Rhône starts in the Swiss Alps and flows through Lake Geneva.
    • Doubs River: This river flows partly along the border between Switzerland and France, eventually joining the Saône (which then flows into the Rhône).
    • Arve River: This river joins the Rhône in Geneva.

• Po River Basin (in Italy)
  • Some Swiss rivers flow south and become part of the Po river system in Italy.
    • Ticino River: This river flows from Switzerland into Italy and joins the Po river.
      • Maggia River: This river flows into Lake Maggiore, which then connects to the Ticino river.

• Adige River Basin (in Italy)
  • A few rivers from Switzerland's eastern parts flow into the Adige river in Italy.
    • Rom River: This river flows from Switzerland into Italy and joins the Adige.

• Danube River Basin (in Germany/Austria)
  • The Danube river itself doesn't flow through Switzerland, but one important Swiss river contributes to it.
    • Inn River: This river starts in Switzerland and flows into Austria and Germany, where it joins the mighty Danube river.

Images for kids

• 

  The Birs river at Laufen.

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Ríos de Suiza para niños

• Hydrology of Switzerland
• Geography of Switzerland
• Rivers of Europe
• List of lakes of Switzerland