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List of rivers of Switzerland

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Map of Switzerland showing major lakes and rivers

The following is a list of rivers of Switzerland (and tributaries thereof). Included rivers flow either entirely or partly through Switzerland or along its international borders. Swiss rivers belong to five drainage basins, i.e. of the Rhine, the Rhône, the Po, the Danube or the Adige. Of these, only the Rhine and Rhône flow through Switzerland (and also originate there). The waters therefore drain into either the North Sea, the Mediterranean Sea or the 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

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Rivers with over 100 km (62 mi) in Switzerland

Rank River Length (km) Length (mi)
1 Rhine 375 233
2 Aare (or Aar) 295 183
3 Rhône 264 164
4 Reuss 158 98
5 Linth and Limmat together[i] 140 87
6 Thur 135 84
7 Saane/La Sarine[ii] 128 80

Rivers by drainage area

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Saane/La Sarine at Fribourg

Basins covering more than 1,000 km2 (390 sq mi), counting only the area in Switzerland.

Rank River Length Drainage area
km mi km2 sq mi
1 Rhine 375 233 36,494 14,090
2 Aare (or Aar) 295 183 17,779 6,865
3 Rhône 264 164 10,403 4,017
4 Reuss 158 98 3,425 1,322
5 Orbe and Thielle together 118 73 2,672 1,032
6 Linth and Limmat together 140 87 2,416 933
7 Inn 104 65 2,150 830
8 Saane/La Sarine 128 80 1,892 731
9 Thur 135 84 1,696 655
10 Hinterrhein (Posterior Rhine) 57.3 35.6 1,693 654
11 Ticino 91 57 1,616 624
12 Vorderrhein (Anterior Rhine) 67.5 41.9 1,514 585
13 Doubs 74 46 1,310 510
14 Kander 44 27 1,126 435

Rivers by orography

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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

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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

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International

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Between cantons

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Alphabetical list

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A–E

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F–K

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L–O

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P–S

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T–Z

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See also

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Notes

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  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

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