This list covers 44 rivers whose names start with the letter Y, running from “Yangtze” to “Yarkon River.” They range from massive continental waterways to short coastal streams, and they show up on every inhabited continent except Antarctica. People rely on these rivers for drinking water, irrigation, hydroelectric power, transportation, and fishing, and many of them have shaped the cities and borders that sit along their banks.
Rivers are natural channels of flowing water that carry rain, snowmelt, and groundwater from higher ground down to a lake, sea, or ocean. Some, like the Yangtze, stretch thousands of kilometers and support entire economies, while others, like the Yarrow Water, are small streams best known through local poetry and legend. Along the way, several of these rivers have marked national borders or witnessed major historical events, from the Klondike Gold Rush to World War I.
Below you’ll find the table with each river, its countries, length, type, and description.
River: the name of each river, so you can quickly find the one you’re looking for or compare it with others on the list.
Countries: the country or countries each river flows through, giving you a sense of its geographic reach and importance.
Length (km): the river’s length in kilometers, helping you compare its scale against other rivers on this list.
Type: the kind of river it is, such as a major river, tributary, or border river, so you understand its role in its wider watershed.
Description: a short summary of what makes each river notable, including its history, geography, or cultural significance.
Rivers
| River | Countries | Length (km) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yangtze | China | 6,300 | Major river |
| Yellow River | China | 5,464 | Major river |
| Yenisei | Russia, Mongolia | 5,539 | Major river |
| Yukon River | United States, Canada | 3,190 | Major river |
| Yarlung Tsangpo | China | 2,840 | Major river |
| Yesil (Esil) River | Kazakhstan, Russia | 2,450 | Tributary |
| Yalong River | China | 1,571 | Tributary |
| Yamuna River | India | 1,376 | Tributary |
| Yellowstone River | United States | 1,114 | Tributary |
| Yavarí River | Peru, Brazil | 970 | Border river |
| Yarkand River | China | 970 | Tributary |
| Yana River | Russia | 872 | Major river |
| Yalu River | China, North Korea | 795 | Border river |
| Yaqui River | Mexico | 680 | Major river |
| Yom River | Thailand | 735 | Tributary |
| Yongding River | China | 650 | Major river |
| Yobe River | Nigeria, Niger | 480 | Border river |
| Yadkin River | United States | 335 | Tributary |
| Yapacaní River | Bolivia | 380 | Tributary |
| Yazoo River | United States | 302 | Tributary |
| Yonne River | France | 293 | Tributary |
| Yampa River | United States | 250 | Tributary |
| Yarra River | Australia | 242 | Major river |
| Youghiogheny River | United States | 218 | Tributary |
| Yuba River | United States | 210 | Tributary |
| Yoshino River | Japan | 194 | Major river |
| Yeongsan River | South Korea | 139 | Major river |
| Yubari River | Japan | 136 | Tributary |
| Yura River | Japan | 146 | Major river |
| Yass River | Australia | 116 | Tributary |
| Yamaska River | Canada | 105 | Tributary |
| Yellowknife River | Canada | 105 | Tributary |
| Yahara River | United States | 97 | Tributary |
| Yarmouk River | Syria, Jordan | 82 | Border river |
| Yser River | Belgium, France | 78 | Border river |
| Yodo River | Japan | 75 | Major river |
| Yare River | England | 64 | Major river |
| Ythan River | Scotland | 70 | Tributary |
| Yssel (IJssel) River | Netherlands | 125 | Distributary |
| York River | United States | 60 | Tidal river |
| Yauza River | Russia | 48 | Tributary |
| Ystwyth River | Wales | 30 | Tributary |
| Yarrow Water | Scotland | 20 | Tributary |
| Yarkon River | Israel | 27 | Coastal river |
Descriptions
Yangtze
Asia’s longest river and the third-longest in the world, flowing from the Tibetan Plateau to Shanghai and anchoring China’s economy and history.
Yellow River
Known as the Huang He, this is China’s second-longest river and the cradle of Chinese civilization, named for the yellow silt it carries.
Yenisei
One of the largest rivers draining into the Arctic Ocean, flowing north through Siberia from its source near Mongolia.
Yukon River
A historic waterway tied to the Klondike Gold Rush, running from British Columbia through the Yukon Territory and Alaska to the Bering Sea.
Yarlung Tsangpo
The Tibetan upper course of the Brahmaputra, famous for carving one of the deepest canyons on Earth before entering India.
Yesil (Esil) River
A major tributary of the Irtysh River that flows through Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.
Yalong River
A rugged tributary of the Yangtze in southwestern China, prized for its deep gorges and hydropower potential.
Yamuna River
India’s largest tributary of the Ganges, flowing past Delhi and Agra, where the Taj Mahal sits on its banks.
Yellowstone River
The longest undammed river in the contiguous US, flowing from Yellowstone National Park to meet the Missouri River.
Yavarí River
Forms part of the Peru–Brazil border and feeds into the Amazon River basin through dense rainforest.
Yarkand River
A glacier-fed tributary of the Tarim River in China’s Xinjiang region, originating in the Karakoram range.
Yana River
A remote Siberian river flowing north into the Laptev Sea, draining one of the coldest inhabited regions on Earth.
Yalu River
Forms part of the border between China and North Korea, emptying into Korea Bay near the Yellow Sea.
Yaqui River
A vital river in Sonora, Mexico, heavily used for irrigation and hydroelectric power in the region.
Yom River
One of the four main tributaries that join to form the Chao Phraya, Thailand’s principal river.
Yongding River
Flows through the Beijing region and was historically prone to devastating floods, giving it an ironic name meaning “eternally stable.”
Yobe River
Runs along part of the Nigeria–Niger border and feeds the wetlands of the Lake Chad basin.
Yadkin River
Flows through North Carolina and becomes the Pee Dee River after joining the Uwharrie River.
Yapacaní River
Winds through Bolivia’s lowland Santa Cruz department before joining the greater Amazon watershed.
Yazoo River
Flows through Mississippi’s fertile Delta region and joins the Mississippi River near Vicksburg.
Yonne River
A tributary of the Seine in north-central France that gives its name to the Yonne département.
Yampa River
One of the last major undammed tributaries in the Colorado River system, flowing through northwest Colorado.
Yarra River
Runs through the heart of Melbourne, shaping the city’s parks, culture, and skyline.
Youghiogheny River
Crosses Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia, popular with whitewater rafters for its rapids.
Yuba River
A Sierra Nevada river in California tied to Gold Rush history and important salmon habitat.
Yoshino River
Nicknamed “Shikoku’s Mississippi,” this river cuts across Shikoku Island toward the Pacific.
Yeongsan River
One of South Korea’s four major rivers, flowing through the fertile southwestern Jeolla region.
Yubari River
A Hokkaido river historically linked to the region’s coal-mining industry.
Yura River
Flows through Kyoto and Hyogo prefectures before reaching the Sea of Japan.
Yass River
Flows through New South Wales and joins the larger Murrumbidgee River.
Yamaska River
Runs through Quebec and drains into the Richelieu River system near Lake Champlain.
Yellowknife River
Empties into Great Slave Lake near Yellowknife, the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories.
Yahara River
Connects Madison, Wisconsin’s chain of lakes as it winds through the city.
Yarmouk River
A tributary of the Jordan River that forms part of the border between Syria and Jordan.
Yser River
Famous for its role in World War I battles, flowing from northern France through Belgium to the North Sea.
Yodo River
Drains Lake Biwa through Osaka into Osaka Bay, serving as a key regional water source.
Yare River
Flows through Norfolk, England, forming part of the scenic Norfolk Broads waterway network.
Ythan River
A small Aberdeenshire river whose estuary is known for its birdlife and seal colonies.
Yssel (IJssel) River
A branch of the Rhine that flows north through the Netherlands into Lake IJssel.
York River
A tidal Virginia estuary formed where the Pamunkey and Mattaponi rivers meet, draining into Chesapeake Bay.
Yauza River
A small river winding through Moscow before joining the larger Moskva River.
Ystwyth River
Flows through Ceredigion, Wales, and gives its name to the coastal town of Aberystwyth.
Yarrow Water
A Scottish Borders tributary of the Ettrick Water, long celebrated in Scottish poetry and song.
Yarkon River
A short river flowing through Tel Aviv into the Mediterranean Sea.