THE 25 MOST IMPORTANT RIVERS OF ARGENTINA - GEOGRAPHY - 2024

Most of the Argentine rivers can be navigated, and many have great hydroelectric power. In fact, Argentina has an exceptionally rich hydrography. Throughout its extensive territory, the country features a huge number of rivers and lakes, lagoons, wetlands, ice fields, and groundwater.

In general, rivers are essential for human development. They carry, for example, water and nutrients throughout the planet, and play a very important role in the cycle of life, acting as drainage channels for surface water. So much so, that rivers drain almost 75% of the earth's surface.

Furthermore, rivers provide excellent habitat and food for many of Earth's organisms. Many rare plants and trees grow from them. Ducks, otters and beavers make their homes on the banks of the river and others use it for food. In Africa, animals like antelopes, lions, and elephants go to rivers to drink water.

Broadly speaking, these torrents of water provide one of the first travel routes for exploration, commerce and recreation. For their part, the river valleys and plains provide fertile soils at their source and routes. Along these lines, you may be interested in where and how rivers are formed.

In turn, these landforms are an important source of energy. During the early industrial age, mills, shops, and factories were built near fast-flowing rivers, where water could be used for power machines.

Specifically, in South America, there are some of the most important rivers of the American continent that provide important sources of energy to the rest of the planet.

The main rivers of Argentina

1- Second River

Source: Duquealr

El Segundo (also known as Xanaes) is in the center of the province of Córdoba and rises at about 2,000 meters above sea level, in the Sierra Grande, starting from the famous Cordovan Sierras.

It originates from the confluence of the De la Suela, Los Condoritos (which runs through the Quebrada del Condorito National Park), San José, San Pedro, Los Espinillos, Medio, Los Reartes, Los Molinos and Anizacate rivers.

Its route is 340 kilometers and passes through the cities of Río Segundo, Pilar, Costa Sacate, Rincón, Villa del Rosario, Tránsito, Arroyito, El Tío, Concepción del Tío, Marull, Balnearia and Altos de Chipión. The name Xanaes comes from the Comechingón ethnic group, prominent in the history of Córdoba.

2- Malargüe River

Source: Pablo D. Flores

This stream of water known as Mendoza runs through much of the south of the province. It originates in the Andes mountain range, about 2,500 meters above sea level and flows into the Llancanelo lagoon.

3- River of the Willows

Source: Fernandopascullo

This beautiful river crosses the Traslasierra Valley, in the Province of Córdoba, and is born in Villa Cura Brochero and in Mina Clavero, one of the tourist centers of the province. It is the second most important in the area and has large rocks of various shapes, known as Los Cajones.

The Los Elefantes spa also has old rocks that attract tourists. It is a calm river that forms attractive beaches with clear sand and whose waters are said to be healing. In the summer, it is one of the most visited rivers in Argentina.

4- Tartagal River

El Tartagal is north of the province of Salta and circulates through Tartagal. On its way it crosses numerous streams and empties into a swamp. In times of drought, it does not present much water, but in the face of intense rains its flow precipitates and gives rise to serious floods.

5- Rio Negro

Source: Eiwe Lingefors

The Negro River is the most important in Argentine Patagonia, mainly due to its flow. It measures about 635 kilometers in length and runs through the province of the same name from west to east, until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean. It was born from the union of Neuquén and Limay.

6- Samborombón River

Source: Dario Alpern

Located in the province of Buenos Aires, the Samborombón belongs to the Cuenca del Plata and is born in the district of San Vicente. As it passes, it crosses San Vicente and Brandsen, and empties into a bay, very close to the Salado river.

Its short route is 100 kilometers and it usually dries up in the absence of rain. But in times of storms, it becomes mighty and powerful.

7- Rio Grande

Source: Bob Palin

The Rio Grande is located in Jujuy, northwest of Argentina. Its fame is due to the fact that it crosses the mythical Quebrada de Humahuaca, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. In addition, the Rio Grande is part of the Plata basin and sometimes causes flooding in the Tilcara area.

8- Pilcomayo River

Source: Hugo.arg Pilkomajo upė Tarichos departamente (Rio Pilcomayo)

Also called Araguay, this river is part of the Plata basin and passes through three countries: Bolivia, Argentina and Paraguay. Precisely, the importance of the river is largely due to the fact that it serves as a border for these three countries. Its length is 2,426 km.

The name "Pilcomayo" comes from Quechua and means "the river of the birds" (pishqu = bird, mayu = river).

9- Luján River

Source: Marcos GO (Marcos Gómez)

One of the most important rivers in the province of Buenos Aires, the Luján River runs through the districts of Mercedes, Luján, Pilar, Campana, Escobar, Tigre, San Fernando and San Isidro, finally flowing into the Río de la Plata.

10- San Javier River

Source: Bencho

Actually, the San Javier is a watercourse that is considered a river and is born in the Paraná, in the province of Santa Fe. It is also known as the Quiloazas river.

The San Javier River causes large and strong erosions, which is why the city of Cayastá had to move 85 kilometers upwards to avoid the consequences of erosion.

11- Gualeguay River

Source: Juan Andres Bentancour

The famous Gualeguay river is distinguished for being one of the largest in Mesopotamia: it has a length of 857 km. It is born in the north of Entre Ríos and flows into the Paraná Pavón / Paraná Ibicuy arms of the Paraná River. Its average flow is 210 m³ / s.

12- Arrecifes River

To the north of the Province of Buenos Aires is one of the most fertile areas in the world. And this is thanks to the Arrecifes river. It is born near the limit of the province of Santa Fe and passes through the district of Rojas, Salto, Arrecifes, Capitán Sarmiento, San Pedro and Baradero. In each place it receives a different name: Río Rojas, Arroyo Pergamino, Río Arrecifes.

13- Carcarañá River

Source: Turkmenistan

Belonging to the province of Córdoba (an area known for its many rivers), the Carcarañá passes through the province of Santa Fe and empties into the Coronda river. Its total route is 240 km, fully navigable. In addition, it passes through the richest territories in cereals and dairy in the world.

14- Limay River

Source: Aleposta

It is one of the most important rivers in Patagonia. It is born in Lake Nahuel Huapi and converges with Neuquén in the formation of Negro.

With a basin of 63,700 km² and a length of about 500 km, it is one of the rivers with the most energy potential in Argentina with hydroelectric dams such as Alicurá, Piedra del Águila, Pichi Picún Leufú, El Chocón (the second most important in the country) and Arroyito.

15- Pepirí Guazú River

Source: Leandro Kibisz

The Pepirí Guazú River is located in the limits of Misiones and the state of Santa Catarina (Brazil). Its mouth is in the Uruguay river and presents numerous meanders (very sinuous curves) along its route.

16- Mocoretá River

Source: Alejandruma

Its origin is in Corrientes, more precisely in Curuzú Cuatiá and goes south until it reaches the border with Entre Ríos. It finally empties into the Uruguay River and its route is 140 kilometers.

17- Paraguay River

Source: Rio Paraguay seen from the bridge near Asunción, Paraguay, April 2004. Photo by Ilosuna.

Paraguay is considered one of the most important rivers on the continent. It is the main source of the Paraná River and passes through Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina, where it flows into the Paraná.

It is also the natural border between Paraguay and Argentina. Its basin is one of the largest in the world: it has an area of ​​1,170,000 km² and is also one of the longest on Earth with a total length of 2,626 kilometers.

The name comes from Guaraní and means “river of the payaguás” (“ay” is “river” and “paragua” derives from “payaguás”). The payaguás was the name by which the Guarani called the ethnic group that lived at the confluence of the Paraná and Paraguay rivers.

18- Guayquiraró River

Source: Bridge over the Guayquiraró River Dario Alpern

With a route of 158 kilometers that covers the provinces of Entre Ríos and Corrientes, the Guayquiraró belongs to the hydrographic basin of the Paraná River. It also serves as the border between the cities of Curuzú Cuatiá and Sauce. It empties into the Espinillo stream, one of the many branches of the Paraná River. Its basin measures about 9,701 km²

19- Corriente River

Source: Patricio.lorente

Despite being a small river, the Corriente is important as a drain for its 13,000 km² of wetlands. It is located in the province of Corrientes and flows into the Paraná River. The width of the river is about 20 meters and on its banks you can see palm trees and weeds, which are ideal for growing tobacco and citrus fruits.

20- Itiyuro River

The Itiyuro river is born in Bolivia but crosses the province of Salta, in Argentina. More precisely, it is formed in the town of Padcaya and after a few kilometers it crosses the Argentine border. There it begins its way to the southeast until it reaches the town of General José de San Martín.

21- Suquía River

Source: Arianza1

The Suquía river is one of the most important in the province of Córdoba. Its birth is due to the union of several rivers in the north of Cordoba. For example, the San Francisco or Grande de Punilla rivers join the Suquía river at Cosquín.

In addition, in the Punilla valley it joins the San Antonio river, which is born in the Altas Cumbres or sierras Grandes. They all flow into the San Roque dam, where the important reservoir of the same name is located.

22- Rio de la Plata

Source: Mel 23

For Argentines, and especially for porteños (inhabitants of the Federal Capital) the Río de la Plata is more than a river: it is a symbol. It is formed by the union of the Paraná and Uruguay rivers and is an important estuary of the Atlantic Ocean. It also marks the border between Uruguay and Argentina and has a basin of no less than 3,200,000 km².

Although most consider it a river, there are some specialists who resist this designation and prefer to call it a gulf or marginal sea. Those who consider it a river, point to it as the widest in the world with its 219 kilometers wide.

23- Gualeguaychú River

Source: Pablo D. Flores

Noted for being a privileged area for fishing, the Gualeguaychú River is also an important symbol for the province of Entre Ríos. It measures about 268 kilometers in length and is the second largest in the province, only behind the Gualeguay River.

24- Uruguay River

Source: PepedoCouto

Uruguay is a river considered international, since it is born in the southeast of Brazil and flows into the Río de la Plata, in Argentina. Together with Paraná and Paraguay, it is one of those responsible for forming the La Plata basin.

25- Paraná River

Source: Tencho

The Paraná River is not only one of the most important in Argentina, but it is also one of the most important in South America. It crosses the southern half of the continent, has several wetlands such as the Pantanal, the Esteros del Iberá and the Bañado la Estrella.

In addition, it is one of the two largest basins on the continent. The other is, of course, the Amazon River. It is the second largest basin in South America, only surpassed by the Amazon River.

The Paraná is the sixth most important plain river in the world. It mobilizes a colossal flow of 16,000 cubic meters per second. Al Paraná is classified as an alluvial river, since it carries sediments that generate islands.