River Basins of Europe

Map created by Robert Szucs (reddit user Fejetlenfej), see full size here.The map above shows the approximately 8,000 catchment areas of Europe’s 1.2 million streams and rivers. The map was created by Robert Szucs (reddit user Fejetlenfej), who runs GrasshopperGeography.

He explains that the map was made using:

…mostly with the open-source QGIS software. Data: European Environment Agency (EEA). 2012. EEA Catchments and Rivers Network System (ECRINS).

High resolution map of Europe’s 1.2 million streams and rivers in beautiful rainbow colours, divided into almost 8000 catchment areas. It shows Strahler Stream Order Classification. The higher the stream order, the thicker the line. I really like this map.

The 10 longest rivers in Europe are:

1. Volga – 3,692km
2. Danube – 2,860km
3. Ural – 2,428km
4. Dnieper – 2,290km
5. Don – 1,950km
6. Pechora – 1,809km
7. Kama – 1,805km
8. Northern Dvina–Vychegda – 1,774km
9. Oka – 1,500km
10. Belaya – 1,430km

Below are the ten largest river basins in Europe based on the area they drain, along with some key details:

1. Volga River Basin

• Drainage Area: ~1,360,000 km²
• Countries: Predominantly Russia
• Outflow: Caspian Sea
• Key Features: Supports large cities like Volgograd and Kazan; vital for Russian agriculture, industry, and transport.

2. Danube River Basin

• Drainage Area: ~817,000 km²
• Countries: Flows through 10 countries, including Germany, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, and Romania.
• Outflow: Black Sea
• Key Features: One of the most international rivers, crucial for biodiversity and trade.

3. Dnieper River Basin

• Drainage Area: ~504,000 km²
• Countries: Ukraine, Belarus, Russia
• Outflow: Black Sea
• Key Features: Essential for hydroelectric power, agriculture, and water supply in Ukraine.

4. Don River Basin

• Drainage Area: ~422,000 km²
• Countries: Russia
• Outflow: Sea of Azov
• Key Features: Known for fertile plains and historical significance in trade routes.

5. Northern Dvina River Basin

• Drainage Area: ~360,000 km²
• Countries: Russia
• Outflow: White Sea
• Key Features: An important waterway in northern Russia.

6. Pechora River Basin

• Length: ~1,809 km
• Drainage Area: ~322,000 km²
• Countries: Russia
• Outflow: Barents Sea
• Key Features: Located in the Arctic, rich in oil and gas deposits.

7. Ural River Basin

• Drainage Area: ~231,000 km²
• Countries: Russia, Kazakhstan
• Outflow: Caspian Sea
• Key Features: Part of the border between Europe and Asia.

8. Rhine River Basin

• Drainage Area: ~185,000 km²
• Countries: Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France, Netherlands
• Outflow: North Sea
• Key Features: Crucial for industrial transport and trade; iconic for its cultural landscapes.

9. Elbe River Basin

• Drainage Area: ~148,000 km²
• Countries: Czech Republic, Germany
• Outflow: North Sea
• Key Features: Historically significant for central Europe.

10. Loire River Basin

• Drainage Area: ~117,000 km²
• Countries: France
• Outflow: Atlantic Ocean
• Key Features: Known for its picturesque valley and cultural heritage, including vineyards and châteaux.