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10 Longest Rivers in the United States

How many of the ten longest rivers in the United States can you name?
Based on the length of the main branch
Length includes portions in other countries
(Tributaries in parentheses)
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Last updated: September 21, 2018
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First submittedNovember 14, 2015
Times taken30,387
Average score60.0%
Rating4.78
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Length
River
(2,341 mi)
Missouri
2,202 mi
Mississippi
1,979 mi
Yukon
1,759 mi
Rio Grande
1,450 mi
Colorado
Length
River
(1,443 mi)
Arkansas
1,243 mi
Columbia
(1,125 mi)
Red
(1,040 mi)
Snake
(979 mi)
Ohio
+1
Level 65
Nov 14, 2015
I think the time for this could be shortened 1

Minute

+11
Level 41
Mar 25, 2019
Maybe for you but no for the ones who doesn't know much of the US rivers that they just sat there thinking.
+3
Level 65
Jan 8, 2016
1 right
+2
Level 75
Jan 8, 2016
Had to think a bit to get Yukon. Adding that the length included portions in other countries helped. I was surprised to see that the Ohio was at the bottom of the list.
+1
Level 67
Feb 16, 2022
The Ohio is somewhat rare in that it starts where two other rivers end (in my city, Pittsburgh). So the length all the way to some small field is not included in the Ohio river like it is in most other rivers.
+1
Level 67
Jan 9, 2024
I feel like the Allegheny should count for the Ohio.
+2
Level 67
Jan 8, 2016
Why is the Mississippi river so popular and well known around the world when it isn't the biggest then?
+7
Level 44
Jan 8, 2016
It is. The length of the Missouri includes parts of the Mississippi because it is a tributary to the Mississippi.
+3
Level 72
Jan 8, 2016
The 2,341 mi does not include any part of the Mississippi River, so it is technically the longest. The Mississippi is the largest North American River system, though, which includes the Missouri (as well as the Arkansas, Red, and Ohio on this list) so that may be a big part of why it's more famous.
+4
Level 84
Jan 10, 2016
The Mississippi is probably more well known because its north-south course was the second natural western "boundary" (after the Appalachian Mountains) in the early days of the US. Also, the Mississippi was thought to be the longest river, before the Missouri was fully mapped - which happened later in US history.
+2
Level 75
Apr 28, 2016
Yup, and everything to the west of it was to be native land "as long as the grass grows and the rivers run," I think is how Andrew Jackson said it.
+2
Level 67
Jan 11, 2016
Ah right, interesting stuff. Just read up a little on it, thanks all!
+4
Level 76
Feb 3, 2019
Mississippi Queen, if you know what I mean. ;)
+3
Level 56
Feb 5, 2019
Mark Twain
+2
Level 29
Jan 8, 2016
A few of them are states.

Enjoy your life.

+3
Level 44
Jan 8, 2016
What are you trying to say? That Niger can't be the name of a country and the river that crosses it, as well?
+2
Level 84
Jan 10, 2016
What is the source for the lengths? Wikipedia says the Missouri is 2,341 miles, but gives 2,320 miles for the Mississippi - just slightly shorter than the Mississippi.
+2
Level 70
Mar 4, 2018
All with 3:11 left!
+5
Level 63
Feb 5, 2019
Got them all with 3:05 remaining at 6:18:12 PM on February 5, 2019.