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.
