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Nile River

Rivers That Flow North

It is a common misconception that all rivers flow south or all rivers in the Northern Hemisphere flow towards the equator. However, the truth is that, like all objects, rivers flow downhill because of gravity.听 They often take a path with the least resistance, and this path can follow any direction, including south, north, west, or east, or other directions in between the four coordinates. The direction of flow is determined mostly by the area鈥檚 topography located between the headwater (origin) and mouth (destination). Also, rivers not only follow one direction; some turn and twist in several directions.

It is important to note that a compass direction does not influence the flow of a river. Unfortunately, some people refer to uphill as north and river鈥檚 mouth as south. To them, the north must be higher than the south. This notion could be the popular myth that makes most people believe that all rivers flow south. While it is true that most rivers flow south, some rivers actually flow from south to north. Since the direction of flow is influenced mostly by topography, some headwaters or sources (mountains) are located to the south of the mouth or destination. In this case, the river will flow in a northerly direction.

Another common misconception is that only two 海角社区鈥檚 rivers, St. Johns River (US) and River Nile (Africa), flow north. The truth is that the two rivers are examples of the many rivers that flow northwards. However, the exact number of the northward-flowing rivers has not been established. In the US, at least 48 rivers in 16 states flow north, including nine in Alaska and eight in Washington. According to some sources, South America has the highest number of northward-flowing rivers.

Nile River map
The course of the Nile River as it flows from south to north through Egypt to drain into the Mediterranean Sea.

River Nile, the 海角社区鈥檚 longest river at 4,258 miles, is the longest northward-flowing river. The Nile has two main tributaries, White Nile (originating in South Sudan) and Blue Nile (Ethiopia). The two rivers meet in Sudan and flow northwards, through 10 other countries, into the Mediterranean Sea. Apart from the Nile, other rivers are Lena, Athabasca, Bighorn, Fox, Ob, and Red River. Theme and Danube River, Europe鈥檚 longest river, have several tributaries originating from the north. Below is a partial list of rivers (length listed when known) that run north. We have not listed rivers that run to the northwest.

  • Athabasca听础濒产别谤迟补,听Canada, 765 miles
  • BannNorthern Ireland, 80 miles
  • Bighorn听Wyoming and Montana,听USA, 336 miles
  • Cauca听Colombia, 597 miles
  • Deschutes听Oregon,听USA, 250 miles
  • Eel听Northern California,听USA, 78 miles
  • ErneIreland听and听Northern Ireland, 60 miles
  • EssequiboGuyana, 600 miles
  • Fox听Wisconsin,听USA, 200 miles
  • Genesee听New York,听USA, 144 miles
  • Jordan听Utah,听USA, 45 miles
  • LenaRussian Federation, 2735 miles
  • Little Bighorn, Wyoming and Montana,听USA, 80 miles
  • MagdalenaColombia, 1062 miles
  • Mojave听Southern California,听USA, 100 miles
  • MonongahelaEastern USA, 128 miles
  • New听Virginia and West Virginia,听USA, 255 miles
  • Niagara听Lake Erie to Lake Ontario,听USA/Canada, 39 miles
  • NileAfrica, 4150 miles
  • ObRussian Federation, 2289 miles
  • Oswego听New York,听USA, 24 miles
  • Otter Creek听Vermont,听USA, 75 miles
  • Pend Oreille听Washington,听USA, 62 miles
  • Red听Minnesota, North Dakota,听USA听(into听Canada), 318 miles
  • Richelieu听Quebec,听Canada, 208 miles
  • Saginaw听Michigan,听USA, 20 miles
  • Saint Johns听Florida,听USA, 275 miles
  • San PedroMexico听(into听Arizona), 142 miles
  • Shenandoah听Virginia and West Virginia,听USA, 55 miles
  • Willamette听Oregon,听USA, 188 miles
  • Wallkill听New Jersey and New York,听USA, 88 miles
  • Yenisey听Russian Federation, 2548 miles
  • YoughioghenyEastern USA, 151 miles
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