Europe is a tiny continent with many affluent countries and a varied landscape. The continent is home to hundreds of rivers, many of which originate in Russia (Euro-Russia). The region where two landmasses meet, Russia and Europe, is known as Euro-Asia, and it is the origin of numerous rivers.
25. Neman
The Neman is a large European river that begins at 176 meters in the southwest of Minsk, Belarus, and flows into the Baltic Sea at the Curonian Lagoon, west of Silute, Lithuania.
Length: 914 km
Drainage area (km2): 98,200
Outflow: Baltic Sea
Countries (In the drainage basin): Belarus, Lithuania, Russia
24. Sava
The Sava River originates at an elevation of 833 meters in Zelenci, Kranjska Gora, Slovenia. There are several cities and tributaries along the Sava riverbed. It merges to the Danube River in Belgrade in Serbia.
Length: 940 km
Drainage area (km2): 97,713
Outflow: Danube River
Countries (In the drainage basin): Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia
23. Prut
The Prut is an Eastern European river that starts on the eastern side of Mount Hoveria in Ukraine’s Carpathian Mountains and flows into the Danube (the second-longest river in Europe).
Length: 953 km
Drainage area (km2): 27,500
Outflow: Danube River
Countries (In the drainage basin): Ukraine, Romania, Moldova
22. Tisza
The Tisza is Hungary’s main river, flowing entirely inside Hungary. It originates near Rakhiv, Ukraine, and receives its water from the Eastern Carpathians (2,020 meters) in Ukraine.
Length: 965 km
Drainage area (km2): 156,087
Outflow: Black Sea
Countries (In the drainage basin): Ukraine, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia
21. Khoper (Khopyor)
The Khoper, also known as the Khopyor, is the Don River’s largest left tributary, with an average discharge of 5,300 cu ft/s. It joins the Don River ( the fifth-longest river in Europe). It has a mouth that is 300 meters wide.
Length: 1,010 km
Drainage area (km2): 61,100
Outflow: Don River
Countries (In the drainage basin): Russia
20. Loire
The Loire is France’s longest and most important river, starting at an altitude of 1,350 meters in the southeastern corner of the Massif Central in Ardeche and merging with the Atlantic Ocean at Saint-Nazaire.
Length: 1,012 km
Drainage area (km2): 115,271
Outflow: Atlantic Ocean
Countries (In the drainage basin): France
19. Daugava
The Daugava River flows from Russia’s Valdai Hills (221 meters) to Latvia’s Gulf Riga in the Baltic Sea. The river flows about 325 km in Russia, 338 km in Belarus, and 352 kilometers in Latvia.
Length: 1,020 km
Drainage area (km2): 87,900
Outflow: Gulf of Riga
Countries (In the drainage basin): Belarus, Latvia, Russia
18. Tagus
The Tagus river starts at an elevation of 1,593 meters in Montes Universales, Aragon, Spain, and joins with the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon, Portugal. It is the longest river in the Iberian Peninsula, with several tributaries.
Length: 1,038 km
Drainage area (km2): 80,100
Outflow: The Atlantic Ocean near
Countries (In the drainage basin): Spain, Portugal
17. Vistula
The Vistula is Poland’s largest and longest river, beginning in Barania Gora (height of 1,106 meters) and ending at Swilbno in the Baltic Sea. Nida, Pilica, Bzura, Brda, Wda, Dunajec, Wisloka, San, Wieprz, Narew, and Drweca are the main tributaries.
Length: 1,047 km
Drainage area (km2): 194,424
Outflow: Baltic Sea
Countries (In the drainage basin): Poland
16. Donets
The Donets River rises in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast’s Prokhorovsky region (elevation 200 meters), and is Ukraine’s fourth-longest and greatest river in eastern Ukraine, as well as the Don River’s major tributary. This river runs through the forest, and it is home to a variety of animals and birds.
Length: 1,050 km
Drainage area (km2): 98,900
Outflow: Don River
Countries (In the drainage basin): Ukraine, Russia
15. Elbe
The Elbe River begins in the northern Czech Republic’s Krkonose Mountains and runs across Germany before merging with the North Sea, discharging an average of 30,724 cubic feet per second.
Length: 1,091 km
Drainage area (km2): 148,268
Outflow: North Sea
Countries (In the drainage basin): Czech Republic, Germany
14. Vychegda River
The Vychegda River originates in Russia’s Northern Dvina (European portion). It is 1,130 km longer and merges to the river Northern Dvina. It is a tributary of the Northern Dvina, with the northern Ural mountains as its primary water source.
Length: 1,130 km
Drainage area (km2): 121,000
Outflow: Northern Dvina River
Countries (In the drainage basin): Russia
13. Desna
The Desna River is a left tributary of the Dnieper River that flows from Russia’s Smolensk Heights to Ukraine’s Desna Belt near Kyiv. Water is discharged at a rate of 12,713 cu ft/s on average.
Length: 1,130 km
Drainage area (km2): 88,900
Outflow: Dnieper river
Countries (In the drainage basin): Russia, Ukraine
12. Rhine
In Switzerland, the Rhine River rises in the canton of Graubunden. It flows into the North Sea near Hoek van Holland, Rotterdam, Netherland, with an average discharge of 102,413 cu ft/s.
Length: 1,230 km
Drainage area (km2): 198,735
Outflow: North Sea
Countries (In the drainage basin): Germany, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Austria, Liechtenstein, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg
11. Vyatka
The Vyatka River is a right tributary of the Kama River that originates in northern Udmurtia and flows through Kirov Oblast in Russia. It discharges an average of 31,000 cu ft/s.
Length: 1,370 km
Drainage area (km2): 129,000
Outflow: Kama River
Countries (In the drainage basin): Russia
10. Dniester
The Dniester River begins at a height of 900 meters in the Ukrainian Carpathians. It has an average discharge of 10,948 cubic feet per second and flows back into the Black Sea on Ukrainian territory.
Length: 1,362 km
Drainage area (km2): 68,627
Outflow: Black Sea
Countries (In the drainage basin): Ukraine, Moldova
9. Belaya
The Belaya River begins and ends in Russia, with its sources in the Iremel Mountains of Bashkortostan. The Belaya River joins the Kama River.
Length: 1,420 km
Drainage area (km2): 142,000
Outflow: Kama River (Caspian Sea)
Countries (In the drainage basin): Russia
8. Oka
The Oka River is the biggest right tributary of the Volga River, rising 226 meters above sea level in Russia’s Oryol Oblast. The Oka has a number of significant tributaries, as well as a number of towns and settlements.
Length: 1,500 km
Drainage area (km2): 245,000 km
Outflow: Volga River (Caspian Sea)
Countries (In the drainage basin): Russia
7. Kama
The Oka River is the biggest right tributary of the Volga River, 226 meters above sea level in Russia’s Oryol Oblast. The Oka has a number of significant tributaries, as well as a number of towns and settlements.
Length: 1,805 km
Drainage area (km2): 507,000
Outflow: Volga River (Caspian Sea)
Countries (In the drainage basin): Russia
6. Pechora
It originates on the west slope of the Ural Mountains in northwest Russia (at an altitude of 630 meters). It has a discharge rate of 145,000 cu ft/s and is rated third in terms of yearly discharge.
Length: 1,809 km
Drainage area (km2): 322,000
Outflow: Barents Sea
Countries (In the drainage basin): Russia
5. Don
With an average discharge of 33,019 cu ft/s, the Don River begins at Novomoskovsk, Tula Oblast (at 238 meters in height) in Russia.
Length: 1,870 km
Drainage area (km2): 425,600
Outflow: Sea of Azov
Countries (In the drainage basin): Russia, Ukraine
4. Dnieper
The Dnieper River is Europe’s fourth-longest river, rising near Smolensk in Russia and receiving its primary water supply from the Valdai Hills, which are 220 meters above sea level.
Length: 2,287 km
Drainage area (km2): 516,300
Outflow: Black Sea
Countries (In the drainage basin): Russia, Belarus, Ukraine
3. Ural
The Ural River, also known as Yaik, rises in western Russia’s southern Ural Mountains and flows into the Caspian Sea right below Atyrau City.
Length: 2,428 km
Drainage area (km2): 237,000
Outflow: Caspian Sea
Countries (In the drainage basin): Russia, Kazakhstan
2. Danube
Its source is the town of Donaueschingen in Germany’s the Black Forest, and it is the longest river in the European Union territory. The Danube River runs through nine nations before merging with the Black Sea.
Length: 2,860 km
Drainage area (km2): 817,000
Outflow: Black Sea
Countries (In the drainage basin): Romania (28.9%), Hungary (11.7%), Austria (10.3%), Serbia (10.3%), Germany (7.5%), Slovakia (5.8%), Bulgaria (5.2%), Croatia (4.5%).
1. Volga
The Volga is Europe’s longest river and has the highest discharge (284,636 cu ft/s). It begins at an elevation of 225 meters in the Valdai Hills of Tver Oblast.
Length: 3,692 km
Drainage area (km2): 1,380,000
Outflow: Caspian Sea
Countries (In the drainage basin): Russia
