List of Rivers in Lithuania

Lithuania’s lowlands and rolling forests are threaded by a dense network of rivers that have guided settlement, commerce and wildlife for centuries. From winding streams through villages to larger waterways that meet the Baltic, these rivers shape local landscapes and regional identity.

There are 95 Rivers in Lithuania, ranging from Akmena-Danė to Žvelsa. For each river, you’ll find below Length (km),Mouth / Major city,Name meaning (max 15 words) so you can quickly compare size, where it flows, and a brief name note — you’ll find below.

How are the rivers organized in this list?

The list is arranged to make comparison easy: each entry shows the river name alongside Length (km), its Mouth / Major city, and a short Name meaning (max 15 words), so you can scan for size, destination and etymology at a glance.

Which rivers should I look for first if I want the longest or most notable ones?

Start with the Nemunas (Neman), Lithuania’s longest river, then look for Neris and Šešupė among the larger waterways; the table below lists exact lengths and key cities where each river meets the sea or another major river.

Rivers in Lithuania

Name	Length (km)	Mouth / Major city	Name meaning (max 15 words)
Nemunas	937	Curonian Lagoon / Kaunas	From Baltic root nem- ‘to bend’, or Finnish niemi ‘cape’.
Neris	510	Nemunas River / Vilnius	From Indo-European root *ner- ‘to dive, flow’.
Venta	346	Baltic Sea / Kuršėnai	Possibly from a Curonian word for ‘winding’.
Šešupė	298	Nemunas River / Marijampolė	From Lithuanian *šeši ‘six’, referring to six tributaries.
Šventoji	246	Neris River / Ukmergė	‘The holy one’.
Nevėžis	209	Nemunas River / Panevėžys	‘River without crayfish’ (ne ‘no’ + vėžys ‘crayfish’).
Merkys	203	Nemunas River / Varėna	From Baltic root *merk- ‘to soak, dip’.
Minija	202	Nemunas delta / Gargždai	From Baltic root *min- ‘to trample, press’.
Nemunėlis	191	Forms Lielupe River / Biržai	‘Little Nemunas’.
Dysna	173	Daugava River / Ignalina district	From Baltic root *dei- ‘to shine’.
Jūra	172	Nemunas River / Tauragė	‘The sea’.
Mūša	164	Forms Lielupe River / Joniškis region	Possibly from Proto-Indo-European *mūs- for ‘mouse’ or ‘moss’.
Lėvuo	145	Mūša River / Panevėžys region	Possibly from lieti ‘to pour’.
Šušvė	135	Nevėžis River / Kėdainiai district	Possibly from root šuš- ‘to swish, rustle’.
Dubysa	131	Nemunas River / Ariogala	‘Hollow’ or ‘deep place’, from dubus ‘deep’.
Širvinta	129	Šventoji River / Širvintos	From širvas ‘greyish, dun-colored’.
Šešuvis	115	Jūra River / Tauragė district	Related to Šešupė, possibly from šeši ‘six’.
Katra	109	Nemunas River / Druskininkai district	From katrus ‘which one’, possibly from a border context.
Bartuva	103	Lake Liepāja / Skuodas	From Old Prussian bartis ‘axe’ or related to a tribe name.
Mituva	102	Nemunas River / Jurbarkas	Obscure origin.
Virvytė	100	Venta River / Telšiai region	From virvė ‘rope’, referring to its winding course.
Pyvesa	93	Mūša River / Kupiškis district	Obscure, potentially related to pilti ‘to pour’.
Varduva	90	Venta River / Mažeikiai	Related to vardas ‘name’, perhaps ‘named river’.
Apaščia	88	Nemunėlis River / Biržai district	Obscure, possibly of Finno-Ugric origin.
Kražantė	86	Dubysa River / Kelmė	Obscure origin.
Ūla	84	Merkys River / Varėna district	From Baltic root *ul- ‘water, dampness’.
Žeimena	80	Neris River / Švenčionys	From žeimėti ‘to shine, gleam’.
Vilnia	80	Neris River / Vilnius	From vilnis ‘a wave’.
Verknė	77	Nemunas River / Birštonas	From verkti ‘to cry’, referring to its sound.
Strėva	74	Nemunas River / Trakai district	From strėvus ‘flowing fast’.
Veiviržas	68	Minija River / Gargždai district	Possibly from veiveris ‘squirrel’.
Ančia	67	Šešupė River / Vilkaviškis district	From antis ‘duck’.
Tatula	65	Mūša River / Biržai district	Obscure, possibly from a personal name.
Siesartis	64	Šventoji River / Ukmergė	Possibly from sieti ‘to connect’ or sėtas ‘sown’.
Akmena-Danė	62	Baltic Sea / Klaipėda	Akmena from akmuo ‘stone’; Danė from Danish influence.
Jiesia	62	Nemunas River / Kaunas	Possibly from eiti ‘to go, walk’.
Musė	62	Neris River / Vilnius district	‘The Fly’.
Tenenys	62	Minija River / Šilutė district	Obscure origin.
Laukesa	61	Daugava River / Zarasai district	From laukas ‘field’.
Daugyvenė	61	Mūša River / Radviliškis district	‘Many lives’ or ‘much life’.
Peršėkė	54	Nemunas River / Alytus district	Obscure, perhaps from perša ‘itches’.
Lankesa	54	Nevėžis River / Kėdainiai district	From lanka ‘meadow’.
Juosta	51	Nevėžis River / Panevėžys district	‘Belt’ or ‘sash’.
Luoba	51	Bartuva River / Skuodas	Obscure, potentially from luobas ‘bark’.
Kriauna	50	Sartai Lake / Rokiškis district	Possibly from kriaušė ‘pear tree’.
Dotnuvėlė	49	Nevėžis River / Kėdainiai district	Diminutive of Dotnuva, a place name.
Verseka	48	Merkys River / Šalčininkai district	Obscure origin.
Obelis	47	Nevėžis River / Kėdainiai	‘Apple tree’.
Višakis	45	Šešupė River / Kazlų Rūda	Obscure, perhaps from vyšnia ‘cherry’.
Salantas	43	Minija River / Salantai	Possibly from *sal- ‘to flow’.
Ašva	40	Veiviržas River / Šilalė district	From Proto-Indo-European *ekwo- ‘horse’.
Upė	40	Šešuvis River / Raseiniai district	Literally ‘River’.
Rovėja	39	Apaščia River / Biržai district	From rova ‘ditch, furrow’.
Žvelsa	38	Minija River / Klaipėda district	From žvelgti ‘to glance, look’.
Beržė	38	Šušvė River / Radviliškis district	‘Birch tree’.
Ringuva	37	Venta River / Šiauliai district	From ringuoti ‘to swing, rock’.
Gynia	36	Nevėžis River / Kaunas district	From ginti ‘to defend’.
Babrungas	35	Minija River / Plungė	From bebras ‘beaver’.
Svalia	35	Lėvuo River / Pasvalys	From svalus ‘quick, swift’.
Gryžuva	34	Dubysa River / Kelmė district	Obscure origin.
Alsa	34	Šešuvis River / Šilalė district	Obscure origin.
Zanyla	34	Šešupė River / Šakiai district	Obscure origin.
Smilga	32	Nevėžis River / Kėdainiai district	‘Bent-grass’.
Viešinta	31	Lėvuo River / Anykščiai district	From viešėti ‘to stay, visit’.
Imsrė	31	Šešuvis River / Tauragė district	Obscure origin.
Armona	30	Šventoji River / Ukmergė district	Obscure, possibly from a personal name.
Kruostas	30	Nevėžis River / Kėdainiai district	From kruostas ‘scab, crust’.
Gauja	29	Nemunas River / Vilkija area	‘Flock’ or ‘crowd’.
Lukna	29	Merkys River / Trakai district	From luknas ‘marshy’.
Amata	29	Mūša River / Pasvalys district	‘Craft’ or ‘trade’.
Sanžilė	29	Lėvuo & Nevėžis rivers / Panevėžys district	Channelized river connecting two larger rivers.
Srovė	28	Nevėžis River / Panevėžys district	‘Current’ or ‘stream’.
Kirsna	28	Šešupė River / Lazdijai district	Obscure, maybe from keršas ‘dapple-grey’.
Pelyša	27	Šventoji River / Anykščiai district	From pelė ‘mouse’.
Vyžuona	26	Šventoji River / Utena	From vyžos ‘bast shoes’.
Linkava	26	Nevėžis River / Kėdainiai district	From linkis ‘bend’.
Šuoja	26	Lėvuo River / Kupiškis district	From šuo ‘dog’.
Zebra	26	Šešupė River / Kazlų Rūda	Obscure, perhaps from žebras ‘bison’.
Ratnyčia	25	Nemunas River / Druskininkai	From ratas ‘wheel’, related to a mill.
Kamona	25	Ygla River / Marijampolė district	Obscure origin.
Žeimys	24	Dubysa River / Raseiniai district	Related to Žeimena, from žeimėti ‘to shine’.
Plaštaka	24	Šventoji River / Ukmergė district	From plaštaka ‘palm of hand’.
Bremena	23	Jūra River / Tauragė district	Obscure, perhaps related to German city name.
Eketė	23	Curonian Lagoon / Klaipėda district	From eketė ‘ice-hole’.
Jar-Vyžinta	23	Šventoji River / Anykščiai district	Compound name of obscure origin.
Krakuva	23	Smilga River / Kėdainiai district	Possibly from krakė ‘jackdaw’.
Lėnas	23	Šventoji River / Ukmergė district	‘Flax’.
Lokys	22	Neris River / Jonava district	‘The Bear’.
Sąnaša	21	Nemunas River / Kaunas	‘Alluvium, sediment’.
Ygla	21	Šešupė River / Marijampolė district	From yla ‘awl’.
Pala	21	Šventoji River / Utena district	From pala ‘swampy meadow’.
Dovilė	19	Minija River / Gargždai district	A personal name, ‘gift-hope’.
Skroblus	17	Merkys River / Varėna district	‘Hornbeam tree’.
Anykšta	14	Šventoji River / Anykščiai	From nykštys ‘thumb’.
Kirkilas	8	Apaščia River / Biržai district	From kirkinti ‘to squawk’; known for sinkholes.

Images and Descriptions

Nemunas

Nemunas is the longest and most important river in Lithuania. It flows across the country to the Curonian Lagoon and shapes major cities and transport routes.

Neris

Neris is a major Lithuanian river that joins the Nemunas. It passes through the capital region and serves as an important historical and geographic landmark.

Venta

Venta is a notable river in northwestern Lithuania and nearby Latvia. It is included for its regional importance and distinctive natural features.

Šešupė

Šešupė is a border and regional river in western Lithuania. It is included for its size and role as a significant tributary within the national river network.

Šventoji

Šventoji is a common river name in Lithuania; notable Šventoji rivers reach the Baltic coast. It appears on maps and local guides for its coastal and inland stretches.

Nevėžis

Nevėžis is a central Lithuanian river and an important tributary in the drainage system. It is often cited for its role in local agriculture and settlements.

Merkys

Merkys is a river in southeastern Lithuania known for varied landscapes and tributaries. It features in regional hydrology and recreation.

Minija

Minija is a western Lithuanian river flowing toward the Nemunas delta and lagoon systems. It is included for its ecological and navigational value in the delta area.

Nemunėlis

Nemunėlis (Mēmele) is a northern river that contributes to cross-border drainage in the region. It appears in lists for its role in the broader basin.

Dysna

Dysna is a smaller river in northeastern Lithuania. It is included as part of the country’s network of named tributaries and local waterways.

Jūra

Jūra is a river in western Lithuania that drains toward the Baltic coastal area. It is noted for regional geography and local communities along its banks.

Mūša

Mūša is a northern Lithuanian river that helps form larger river systems across the border. It is included for its hydrological importance in the region.

Lėvuo

Lėvuo is a river in northern Lithuania with local significance for towns and agriculture. It appears on national river lists and maps.

Šušvė

Šušvė is a central Lithuanian river known for its calm course and local ecology. It is included for its contribution to regional drainage.

Dubysa

Dubysa is a river in western–central Lithuania with historical and natural value. It is listed for its scenic valley and cultural sites.

Širvinta

Širvinta is a small to medium river in eastern Lithuania. It is included for its role in local recreation and river networks.

Šešuvis

Šešuvis is a southwestern Lithuanian river that flows through rural landscapes. It appears on regional maps and in hydrological listings.

Katra

Katra is a lesser-known Lithuanian river included for completeness of notable local waterways. It contributes to small-basin drainage.

Bartuva

Bartuva is a river in western Lithuania that reaches the Baltic coastal plain. It is included for regional geography and ecological interest.

Mituva

Mituva is a western Lithuanian river notable in local river systems. It is listed for its role in linking inland waters to coastal basins.

Virvytė

Virvytė is a northwestern Lithuanian river with lakes and wetlands along its course. It is included for its natural habitats and regional importance.

Pyvesa

Pyvesa is a smaller Lithuanian river appearing in regional hydrographic records. It is included to represent the country’s network of named streams.

Varduva

Varduva is a river in northwestern Lithuania that connects with larger waterways. It is listed for its local and recreational importance.

Apaščia

Apaščia is a river in northern Lithuania known within regional drainage maps. It appears for its contribution to local water systems.

Kražantė

Kražantė is a river in north-central Lithuania with historical ties to nearby towns. It is included for its cultural and geographic relevance.

Ūla

Ūla is a river in southern Lithuania known for clear water and natural scenery. It is included for its attraction to nature enthusiasts.

Žeimena

Žeimena is an eastern Lithuanian river famous for its natural valley and biodiversity. It is included as a notable natural river corridor.

Vilnia

Vilnia is a small river that gives its name to the capital, Vilnius. It is included for its cultural and historical connections to the city.

Verknė

Verknė is a river in central Lithuania noted for its picturesque valley and historical mills. It appears for its scenic and cultural value.

Strėva

Strėva is a river in western–central Lithuania that joins larger drainage systems. It is included for historical events and regional geography.

Veiviržas

Veiviržas is a river in western Lithuania flowing toward the Baltic region. It is included for its local role in the coastal watershed.

Ančia

Ančia is a small river in southwestern Lithuania. It appears in the list as part of the country’s named rivers in rural landscapes.

Tatula

Tatula is a northern Lithuanian river with connections to lakes and wetlands. It is included for its natural habitats and regional profile.

Siesartis

Siesartis is a small Lithuanian river recorded in local hydrography. It is included for completeness among named waterways.

Akmena-Danė

Akmena-Danė refers to linked river sections in northwest Lithuania near port areas. It is included for its local industrial and historical links.

Jiesia

Jiesia is a river in western Lithuania known in local geography. It appears in the list as a named tributary in regional basins.

Musė

Musė is a river in northern Lithuania that contributes to nearby drainage networks. It is included for its local hydrological role.

Tenenys

Tenenys is a small Lithuanian river appearing on regional maps. It is included to represent local watercourses in the national list.

Laukesa

Laukesa is a minor river in Lithuania listed for regional interest. It appears in hydrological records and local guides.

Daugyvenė

Daugyvenė is a local river in Lithuania known in rural areas. It is included to reflect the variety of named waterways.

Peršėkė

Peršėkė is a small river in southern Lithuania with local significance. It appears in the post as a named waterway in the region.

Lankesa

Lankesa is a river in central Lithuania noted on regional maps. It is included for its role in local drainage and communities.

Juosta

Juosta is a minor river in northeastern Lithuania. It appears in the list as part of the country’s network of smaller rivers.

Luoba

Luoba is a river in western Lithuania recorded in local hydrography. It is included for completeness of named waterways.

Kriauna

Kriauna is a small Lithuanian river included as a named tributary. It appears in regional environmental and mapping sources.

Dotnuvėlė

Dotnuvėlė is a river in central Lithuania known to nearby towns. It is included for its local geographic and hydrological role.

Verseka

Verseka is a lesser-known river in Lithuania appearing in basin records. It is included to provide a fuller list of named rivers.

Obelis

Obelis is a central Lithuanian river with local towns along its banks. It is included for its regional importance in drainage and settlement.

Višakis

Višakis is a small Lithuanian river noted in local maps. It appears in the list as part of the national catalogue of rivers.

Salantas

Salantas is a western Lithuanian river that reaches the coastal plain. It is included for its historical towns and regional landscape.

Ašva

Ašva is a small river in eastern Lithuania recorded in hydrological data. It appears in the list for local geographic completeness.

Upė

Upė is a generic Lithuanian word for ‘river’ and also a named stream on maps. It is included as part of naming conventions and local records.

Rovėja

Rovėja is a river in northeastern Lithuania known in regional hydrography. It is included to represent named streams in that area.

Žvelsa

Žvelsa is a river in western Lithuania recorded in local sources. It is included for its role in regional drainage systems.

Beržė

Beržė is a small Lithuanian river noted in local geography. It appears in the list for completeness among named waterways.

Ringuva

Ringuva is a minor Lithuanian river appearing on regional maps. It is included to reflect local river names and basins.

Gynia

Gynia is a river in southwestern Lithuania recorded in hydrological listings. It is included as a named watercourse in regional geography.

Babrungas

Babrungas is a river in western Lithuania with local historical ties. It is included for regional importance and presence on maps.

Svalia

Svalia is a river in central Lithuania that appears in national hydrographic records. It is included for its local drainage role.

Gryžuva

Gryžuva is a small river in western Lithuania known to nearby communities. It is included in the list of regional waterways.

Alsa

Alsa is a minor Lithuanian river listed in local maps. It is included to show the range of named streams across the country.

Zanyla

Zanyla is a small river in Lithuania recorded in local hydrography. It appears for completeness in the national river list.

Smilga

Smilga is a central Lithuanian river noted for passing near towns and countryside. It is included for its local geographic importance.

Viešinta

Viešinta is a river in northeastern Lithuania appearing in regional records. It is included for its role in local drainage and landscapes.

Imsrė

Imsrė is a minor river in Lithuania recorded in hydrological data. It appears in the post to represent smaller named streams.

Armona

Armona is a small Lithuanian river appearing on local maps. It is included to provide a broad view of the country’s waterways.

Kruostas

Kruostas is a river in central Lithuania known in regional geography. It appears in the list for its local hydrographic role.

Gauja

Gauja is primarily a large Latvian river but is listed when relevant to nearby Lithuanian basins and cross-border geography.

Lukna

Lukna is a river in northeastern Lithuania known for lakes and wetlands. It is included for its natural and local importance.

Amata

Amata is a river better known in neighboring regions but included for its hydrological links to nearby basins and landscapes.

Sanžilė

Sanžilė is a smaller river in Lithuania appearing in local hydrographic records. It is included to reflect named waterways across regions.

Srovė

Srovė is a minor Lithuanian river that appears in regional maps. It is included for completeness of local river listings.

Kirsna

Kirsna is a river in southeastern Lithuania recorded in environmental sources. It is included for its role in the local watershed.

Pelyša

Pelyša is a small Lithuanian river noted in local geography. It appears in the list to represent local named streams.

Vyžuona

Vyžuona is a river in eastern Lithuania included for its local drainage role and presence on regional maps.

Linkava

Linkava is a river in central Lithuania known in regional hydrography. It is included for its contribution to the national river network.

Šuoja

Šuoja is a small river in Lithuania recorded in local sources. It appears in the list as part of the country’s named waterways.

Zebra

Zebra is a lesser-known stream in Lithuania appearing on local maps. It is included for its presence in regional hydrographic records.

Ratnyčia

Ratnyčia is a river in western Lithuania noted for local settlement ties. It appears in the list for its regional significance.

Kamona

Kamona is a river in northern Lithuania recorded in hydrological listings. It is included among named rivers for mapping purposes.

Žeimys

Žeimys is a small Lithuanian river that appears in local records. It is included for regional completeness in the river list.

Plaštaka

Plaštaka is a minor river in Lithuania listed in local hydrography. It appears in the post to show smaller named waterways.

Bremena

Bremena is a lesser-known river in Lithuania appearing on regional maps. It is included among named streams and tributaries.

Eketė

Eketė is a small river in Lithuania that is recorded in local geographic sources. It appears for completeness in the national list.

Jar-Vyžinta

Jar-Vyžinta is a paired or compound river name appearing in regional hydrography. It is included for its local mapping presence.

Krakuva

Krakuva is a river in central Lithuania known in local records and maps. It is included for its role in regional drainage.

Lėnas

Lėnas is a minor Lithuanian river appearing in hydrological data. It is included to represent smaller waterways across the country.

Lokys

Lokys is a river in central Lithuania; the name means ‘bear’ in Lithuanian. It is included for local geographic interest and naming significance.

Sąnaša

Sąnaša is a river listed in Lithuanian hydrographic sources. It appears in the post to capture named local streams.

Ygla

Ygla is a small river in Lithuania recorded in regional maps. It is included among the country’s lesser-known waterways.

Pala

Pala is a minor Lithuanian river that appears in local hydrographic records. It is included to show breadth of named rivers.

Dovilė

Dovilė is a small river in western Lithuania appearing on maps and in local sources. It is included for regional completeness.

Skroblus

Skroblus is a river in Lithuania recorded in environmental listings. It is included as a named tributary in the national network.

Anykšta

Anykšta is a river in northeastern Lithuania near Anykščiai. It is included for its local cultural links and presence on maps.

Kirkilas

Kirkilas is a small Lithuanian river known in local geography. It appears on hydrological lists and regional guides.

Rivers in Other Countries

Nigeria Kuwait Germany Bahrain Sri Lanka