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.
(> 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 |
(> 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 |
Switzerland is drained into four directions:
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.
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.
(> 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 |
(> 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 |
Switzerland is drained into four directions:
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.