This list covers 28 rivers with names running from “Hudson River” to “Hornad.” They range from short tidal channels to major waterways thousands of kilometers long, crossing dozens of countries across several continents. Many of these rivers have shaped the cities and regions around them, supporting farming, shipping, drinking water, and recreation for the people who live nearby.

Rivers are natural channels of flowing water that carry rain, snowmelt, and groundwater from higher ground down toward lakes, seas, or other rivers. They’ve guided where people settle and trade for thousands of years, and the Han River is a striking example, giving its name to South Korea’s “Miracle on the Han River,” the country’s rapid economic rise after World War II.

Below you’ll find the table with the river, countries, length, type, and description for each entry.

River: the name of each river, so you can quickly find the one you’re looking for.

Countries: the country or countries each river flows through, helpful if you’re researching a specific region.

Length (km): the river’s total length in kilometers, giving you a quick sense of its scale.

Type: the kind of river it is, such as tidal, tributary, or major river, so you know how it fits into a larger water system.

Description: a short summary of what makes the river notable, from its geography to its history and role in daily life.

Rivers

RiverCountriesLength (km)Type
Hudson RiverUnited States507Tidal river
Huang He (Yellow River)China5,464Major river
Han RiverSouth Korea494Major river
Helmand RiverAfghanistan1,150Major river
Harirud (Hari River)Afghanistan, Iran, Turkmenistan1,124Major river
Hunter RiverAustralia470River
Hawkesbury RiverAustralia120Estuarine river
HavelGermany325Tributary river
Hooghly RiverIndia260Distributary river
Huai RiverChina1,000Major river
Hai RiverChina1,090Major river
Humboldt RiverUnited States470Endorheic river
Hackensack RiverUnited States68Tidal river
Harlem RiverUnited States13Tidal strait
Housatonic RiverUnited States240River
Holston RiverUnited States220Tributary river
Hiwassee RiverUnited States232Tributary river
Huron RiverUnited States200Tributary river
Hocking RiverUnited States155Tributary river
HumberEngland62Estuary
Hull RiverEngland39Tributary river
HodderEngland39Tributary river
HeraultFrance160River
Hunza RiverPakistan190Tributary river
Huallaga RiverPeru1,138Tributary river
Hutt RiverNew Zealand56River
HronSlovakia298Tributary river
HornadSlovakia193Tributary river

Descriptions

Hudson River
Flowing from the Adirondack Mountains to New York Harbor, the Hudson is tidal for much of its length and has long been a vital trade and travel corridor for the northeastern US.
Huang He (Yellow River)
China’s second-longest river, named for the silt that colors its waters yellow-brown, it is considered the cradle of Chinese civilization but is also prone to devastating floods.
Han River
Flowing through Seoul, the Han River was central to South Korea’s rapid post-war economic growth, often called the “Miracle on the Han River.”
Helmand River
Afghanistan’s longest river, the Helmand rises in the Hindu Kush and flows southwest into Iran, irrigating a vast agricultural valley in an otherwise arid region.
Harirud (Hari River)
Also known as the Hari River, it flows from central Afghanistan through Herat before forming part of the Iran-Turkmenistan border, vanishing into desert sands.
Hunter River
New South Wales’ Hunter River drains a major coal-mining and wine-growing region before emptying into the Pacific Ocean at Newcastle.
Hawkesbury River
A scenic waterway north of Sydney, the Hawkesbury is known for its sandstone gorges, houseboats, and abundant fishing and oyster farming.
Havel
A major tributary of the Elbe, the Havel winds through Berlin and Brandenburg, forming numerous lakes that make it popular for boating.
Hooghly River
A distributary of the Ganges in West Bengal, the Hooghly flows past Kolkata and has historically served as a key shipping route into the Bay of Bengal.
Huai River
One of China’s principal rivers, the Huai flows between the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers and traditionally marks the cultural boundary between northern and southern China.
Hai River
Formed by several tributaries converging near Tianjin, the Hai River system drains much of the North China Plain into the Bohai Sea.
Humboldt River
Nevada’s longest river, the Humboldt flows entirely within the state and terminates in the Humboldt Sink rather than reaching the ocean.
Hackensack River
Flowing through the New Jersey Meadowlands into Newark Bay, the Hackensack is a tidal river shaped heavily by urban and industrial development.
Harlem River
This short tidal waterway separates Manhattan from the Bronx, connecting the Hudson and East Rivers and serving as a busy shipping channel.
Housatonic River
Rising in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, the Housatonic flows through Connecticut farmland and forests on its way to Long Island Sound.
Holston River
Formed in eastern Tennessee, the Holston joins the French Broad River to create the Tennessee River, an important source of hydroelectric power.
Hiwassee River
Flowing from Georgia through North Carolina into Tennessee, the Hiwassee is prized for whitewater rafting and trout fishing.
Huron River
Flowing through southeastern Michigan into Lake Erie, the Huron River passes through Ann Arbor and several historic mill towns.
Hocking River
Winding through southeastern Ohio’s forested hill country, the Hocking River is known for the scenic gorges and caves of Hocking Hills.
Humber
Formed where the Trent and Ouse rivers meet, the Humber is a major tidal estuary on England’s east coast, spanned by the Humber Bridge.
Hull River
A small chalk stream in East Yorkshire, the River Hull gives the city of Hull its name and flows into the Humber estuary.
Hodder
A tributary of the River Ribble in Lancashire, the Hodder flows through the scenic Forest of Bowland.
Herault
Rising in the Cevennes mountains, the Herault River flows south through vineyards and limestone gorges before reaching the Mediterranean Sea.
Hunza River
Flowing through the dramatic mountain scenery of Gilgit-Baltistan, the Hunza River is a major tributary of the Gilgit River in the Karakoram range.
Huallaga River
Rising in the Peruvian Andes, the Huallaga flows north through jungle valleys to join the Maranon River, a headwater of the Amazon.
Hutt River
Flowing through the Hutt Valley near Wellington, this river gave its name to the surrounding urban area and is popular for kayaking.
Hron
One of Slovakia’s longest rivers, the Hron flows south from the Low Tatras mountains to join the Danube.
Hornad
Flowing through eastern Slovakia past the historic city of Kosice, the Hornad eventually joins the Danube via Hungary’s Tisza River.
If you think there is a missing term, let us know using the contact form.