This list covers 58 rivers whose names start with the letter “L,” running alphabetically from “Lena” to “Lamone.” They range from massive Siberian giants to short urban streams that cut through the middle of major cities. Most of these rivers shape farmland, supply drinking water, or carve out valleys that support wildlife, while a few are best known for the towns, festivals, and landmarks that grew up along their banks.
Rivers are natural channels of flowing water that carry rainfall and snowmelt from higher ground down to a lake, sea, or ocean. They’ve shaped human history for thousands of years, offering water, transport, and fertile soil to the towns that grew along their banks. The Li River in China, for example, is famous for the limestone peaks that inspired centuries of Chinese landscape painting.
Below you’ll find the table with each river’s countries, length, type, and description.
River: the name of the river, listed alphabetically so you can quickly find the one you’re looking for.
Countries: the country or countries the river flows through, giving you a sense of where to find it on a map.
Length (km): how long the river is, measured in kilometers from its source to its mouth or confluence.
Type: whether it’s a major river, tributary, headwater river, urban river, or distributary, helping you understand its role in the wider river system.
Description: a short summary of what makes the river notable, from its geography to the history and culture tied to it.
Rivers
| River | Countries | Length (km) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lena | Russia | 4,400 | Major river |
| Loire | France | 1,012 | Major river |
| Limpopo | South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique | 1,750 | Major river |
| Lualaba | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 1,800 | Headwater river |
| Lomami | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 1,500 | Tributary |
| Luangwa | Zambia | 800 | Tributary |
| Lachlan | Australia | 1,480 | Tributary |
| Liao (Liao He) | China | 1,345 | Major river |
| Lower Tunguska | Russia | 2,989 | Tributary |
| Lancang | China | 2,161 | Headwater river |
| Li | China | 164 | Tributary |
| Lech | Austria, Germany | 264 | Tributary |
| Liffey | Ireland | 132 | Urban river |
| Lagan | United Kingdom | 68 | Urban river |
| Lee | Ireland | 89 | Urban river |
| Lune | United Kingdom | 80 | River |
| Lea | United Kingdom | 68 | Tributary |
| Lippe | Germany | 220 | Tributary |
| Lahn | Germany | 245 | Tributary |
| Leine | Germany | 281 | Tributary |
| Lek | Netherlands | 60 | Distributary |
| Lys (Leie) | France, Belgium | 202 | Tributary |
| Lot | France | 481 | Tributary |
| Loir | France | 311 | Tributary |
| Loing | France | 166 | Tributary |
| Livenza | Italy | 112 | River |
| Lambro | Italy | 130 | Tributary |
| Leitha | Austria | 180 | River |
| Lafnitz | Austria | 128 | River |
| Lielupe | Latvia | 119 | River |
| Lugg | United Kingdom | 108 | Tributary |
| Lofa | Liberia | 400 | River |
| Lurio | Mozambique | 616 | River |
| Lugenda | Mozambique | 640 | Tributary |
| Letaba | South Africa | 350 | Tributary |
| Los Angeles River | United States | 82 | Urban river |
| Little Colorado River | United States | 499 | Tributary |
| Licking River | United States | 515 | Tributary |
| Lehigh River | United States | 165 | Tributary |
| Lackawanna River | United States | 68 | Tributary |
| Laramie River | United States | 288 | Tributary |
| Loup River | United States | 110 | Tributary |
| Lamoille River | United States | 137 | River |
| Lumber River | United States | 215 | River |
| Little Missouri River | United States | 901 | Tributary |
| Llano River | United States | 169 | Tributary |
| Leaf River | United States | 209 | Tributary |
| Le Sueur River | United States | 173 | Tributary |
| Latrobe River | Australia | 108 | River |
| Leichhardt River | Australia | 574 | River |
| Lynd River | Australia | 354 | Tributary |
| Lhasa River | China | 551 | Tributary |
| Langat River | Malaysia | 141 | River |
| Lupar River | Malaysia | 320 | River |
| Luan (Luan He) | China | 877 | Major river |
| Laja River | Chile | 168 | Tributary |
| Liri-Garigliano | Italy | 158 | River |
| Lamone | Italy | 90 | River |
Descriptions
Lena
One of the world’s longest rivers, the Lena flows through Siberia into the Arctic Ocean and is famous for its dramatic ice-carved delta and the fossil-rich Lena Pillars.
Loire
France’s longest river winds past dozens of Renaissance chateaux before emptying into the Atlantic, making the Loire Valley one of the country’s top tourist regions.
Limpopo
This southern African river forms part of the border between several countries and was made famous by Rudyard Kipling’s story “How the Elephant Got His Trunk.”
Lualaba
Considered the upper reach of the Congo River, the Lualaba flows north through mineral-rich Katanga before plunging over Boyoma Falls near Kisangani.
Lomami
A major Congo River tributary, the Lomami flows through dense rainforest now protected as Lomami National Park, home to rare bonobos.
Luangwa
A tributary of the Zambezi, the Luangwa carves out one of Africa’s richest wildlife valleys, teeming with hippos, crocodiles, and elephants.
Lachlan
One of inland Australia’s longest rivers, the Lachlan winds through New South Wales farmland before joining the Murrumbidgee River.
Liao (Liao He)
Flowing through China’s industrial northeast, the Liao River empties into Liaodong Bay and has long supported farming and heavy industry along its banks.
Lower Tunguska
One of Siberia’s mightiest rivers, the Lower Tunguska cuts through remote taiga before joining the great Yenisei River.
Lancang
Known as the Mekong once it leaves China, the Lancang tumbles out of the Tibetan Plateau through deep gorges that power major hydroelectric dams.
Li
Famous for the limestone karst peaks lining its banks near Guilin, the Li River is one of China’s most photographed and painted landscapes.
Lech
An Alpine river known for its milky turquoise water and wild, undammed stretches, the Lech flows from Austria into Bavaria before joining the Danube.
Liffey
Dublin’s defining waterway, the Liffey splits the Irish capital in two and has inspired writers from James Joyce to countless local songs.
Lagan
The Lagan flows through Belfast, Northern Ireland, and its regenerated riverside is now lined with parks, bridges, and the iconic Big Fish sculpture.
Lee
Flowing through the city of Cork, the River Lee splits into two channels that give Cork’s old center its nickname as an island city.
Lune
A scenic English river, the Lune flows through Lancashire and Cumbria past the historic Lune Aqueduct before reaching Morecambe Bay.
Lea
A tributary of the Thames, the River Lea flows through east London, and its valley hosted key venues for the 2012 Olympic Games.
Lippe
Flowing through the Ruhr region, the Lippe was historically vital for transporting coal and remains an important tributary of the Rhine.
Lahn
Known for its castles and half-timbered towns, the Lahn winds through central Germany before joining the Rhine near Koblenz.
Leine
The Leine flows through the city of Hanover before joining the Aller River, forming part of the wider Weser river system.
Lek
A distributary of the Rhine, the Lek carries much of that river’s flow through the Dutch delta and is lined with historic windmills.
Lys (Leie)
Nicknamed the “Golden River” for its role in linen-making, the Lys flows through the historic textile town of Ghent before joining the Scheldt.
Lot
Famous for dramatic gorges and clifftop villages, the Lot winds through southwestern France before joining the Garonne River.
Loir
Not to be confused with the larger Loire, the Loir is a quiet, castle-lined river flowing through the Loir Valley before joining the Sarthe.
Loing
A tributary of the Seine, the Loing flows past the artist town of Moret-sur-Loing, once painted by Alfred Sisley.
Livenza
A clear, spring-fed river in northeastern Italy, the Livenza flows through the Veneto region toward the Adriatic Sea.
Lambro
Flowing through Lombardy and the city of Monza, the Lambro is a tributary of the Po River with a long industrial history.
Leitha
Historically the border between Austria and Hungary, the Leitha gave its name to “Cisleithania,” the Austrian half of the old Habsburg empire.
Lafnitz
One of Austria’s last near-natural lowland rivers, the Lafnitz is prized by ecologists for its undisturbed floodplain habitats.
Lielupe
Formed where two smaller rivers meet, the Lielupe flows through Latvia’s fertile lowlands before emptying near the resort town of Jurmala.
Lugg
A tributary of the River Wye, the Lugg flows through the rolling countryside of the Welsh Marches.
Lofa
One of Liberia’s principal rivers, the Lofa flows from the Guinea highlands through rainforest before reaching the Atlantic coast.
Lurio
A major river in northern Mozambique, the Lurio has long served as a natural boundary between different regions and ethnic groups.
Lugenda
A remote tributary of the Lurio, the Lugenda flows through the vast Niassa Reserve, one of Africa’s largest protected wilderness areas.
Letaba
Flowing through Kruger National Park, the Letaba is a vital dry-season water source for elephants, hippos, and other wildlife.
Los Angeles River
Once a wild, flood-prone waterway, the Los Angeles River was encased in concrete in the 1930s and is now the focus of major urban greening efforts.
Little Colorado River
A key tributary of the Colorado River, it carves its own smaller canyon system and joins the Grand Canyon near its eastern end.
Licking River
Flowing through Kentucky, the Licking River joins the Ohio River across from Cincinnati and was historically used for logging and transport.
Lehigh River
Once a coal-shipping route through eastern Pennsylvania, the Lehigh River now draws whitewater rafters through its scenic gorge.
Lackawanna River
Flowing through the former coal country of northeastern Pennsylvania, the Lackawanna joins the Susquehanna River near Pittston.
Laramie River
Rising in Colorado’s mountains, the Laramie River flows north through Wyoming’s high plains before joining the North Platte River.
Loup River
Formed by several forks converging in central Nebraska, the Loup River joins the Platte River and supports extensive irrigation farming.
Lamoille River
A popular fishing and paddling destination, the Lamoille River flows across northern Vermont before draining into Lake Champlain.
Lumber River
A slow, blackwater river in the Carolinas, the Lumber River is prized for canoeing and protected as a National Wild and Scenic River.
Little Missouri River
Winding through the rugged Badlands of North Dakota, the Little Missouri River carved the dramatic landscape of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Llano River
A clear, spring-fed river in the Texas Hill Country, the Llano River is a favorite spot for tubing, fishing, and swimming.
Leaf River
Flowing through southern Mississippi’s pine forests, the Leaf River joins the Chickasawhay River to form the Pascagoula River.
Le Sueur River
A farmland river in southern Minnesota, the Le Sueur flows into the Blue Earth River shortly before it meets the Minnesota River.
Latrobe River
Flowing through Victoria’s Gippsland region, the Latrobe River powers major power stations and drains into the Gippsland Lakes.
Leichhardt River
Named after the explorer Ludwig Leichhardt, this tropical river flows through Queensland’s Gulf Country and floods heavily during the wet season.
Lynd River
A tributary of the Mitchell River in far north Queensland, the Lynd winds through remote cattle country.
Lhasa River
Flowing past the Tibetan capital that shares its name, the Lhasa River is a major tributary of the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra).
Langat River
Flowing through Selangor state, the Langat River supplies drinking water to millions of people in the greater Kuala Lumpur area.
Lupar River
A tidal river in Sarawak, Borneo, the Lupar is known for its powerful tidal bore that surges upstream after heavy rains.
Luan (Luan He)
Flowing through northern China into the Bohai Sea, the Luan River has long supported farming communities across Hebei province.
Laja River
Famous for the thundering Salto del Laja waterfall, this river flows from the Andes to join the Biobio River in central Chile.
Liri-Garigliano
Known as the Liri in its upper course and the Garigliano near its mouth, this river was the site of intense fighting during World War II’s Battle of Monte Cassino.
Lamone
A short river in the Emilia-Romagna region, the Lamone flows past the historic city of Faenza, famous for its ceramics.