Rivers in Switzerland: The Complete List

Switzerland’s rivers shape valleys, feed lakes and support towns from the Alps to the lowlands. They matter for ecology, transport and local history, and mapping them helps you see how water links the country’s cantons.

There are 73 Rivers in Switzerland, ranging from Aabach (Seetal) to Zulg. For each, the list gives Length (km),Source (place, canton),Mouth (drains to; main cantons) — all shown in the table you’ll find below.

How accurate are the lengths and source locations listed?

Lengths and source locations come from standard Swiss hydrological and topographic sources; they may be rounded or differ slightly by measurement method (meanders, headwater choice). Treat the figures as a reliable baseline and check local authorities for engineering-grade precision.

What’s the easiest way to find rivers by canton or size?

Copy the table into a spreadsheet or use your browser’s find function: the Source (place, canton) and Mouth (drains to; main cantons) columns let you filter by canton, and the Length (km) column can be sorted to compare river sizes quickly.

Rivers in Switzerland

Images and Descriptions

Aare

Name the longest river fully inside Switzerland. It rises in the Bernese Alps and flows through Bern and Solothurn. It drains north into the Rhine at Koblenz and shapes many Swiss valleys and towns.

Aabach (Seetal)

Name a short river in the Seetal valley between Lake Hallwil and Lake Baldegg. It flows in canton Aargau and Vaud. It drains to the Aare basin and links local lakes and villages.

Albula

Name a mountain river in Graubünden. It starts in the Albula Alps and flows north to join the Hinterrhein system. It drains toward the Rhine and runs through deep alpine valleys.

Allaine

Name a river in the Jura and Neuchâtel regions. It rises in the French Jura and flows into the Doubs. It helps define the French-Swiss border and drains to the Rhône/Doubs system.

Alp

Name a central Swiss river in canton Schwyz. It starts in alpine meadows and flows into Lake Sempach or reaches the Reuss system. It serves local valleys and communities.

Areuse

Name a river in canton Neuchâtel. It rises in the Jura and cuts a steep gorge before reaching Lake Neuchâtel. It drains into the Aare/Lake Neuchâtel basin and is scenic.

Arve

Name a fast mountain river that starts in the Mont Blanc massif in France. It crosses Geneva and joins the Rhône. It drains westward and brings alpine water into Lake Geneva and the Rhône.

Aubonne

Name a small river in canton Vaud. It rises in the Jura hills and flows into Lake Geneva. It drains local agricultural valleys and feeds vineyards and towns.

Birs

Name a major Jura river in northwest Switzerland. It rises near the Jura crest and flows into the Rhine at Basel. It drains several cantons and links rural and industrial regions.

Borgne

Name a mountain stream in Valais. It flows down alpine slopes and joins the Rhone tributaries. It drains local valleys and carries glacial melt in summer.

Brenno

Name a river in canton Ticino. It flows through the Blenio Valley and joins the Ticino River. It drains to the Po basin and shapes the southern alpine landscape.

Broye

Name a river that links Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Morat. It flows through cantons Fribourg and Vaud. It drains northward into the Aare/Lake Neuchâtel system and serves lowland plains.

Bünz

Name a short river in canton Aargau. It rises near Lenzburg and flows into the Aare. It drains local farmland and joins the main Swiss internal river system.

Doubs

Name a large border river between Switzerland and France. It rises in the Jura, loops through both countries, and joins the Saône in France. It drains toward the Rhône basin and forms scenic gorges.

Dranse

Name a river in Haute-Savoie and Valais regions with Swiss tributaries. It flows into Lake Geneva near Thonon-les-Bains. It drains alpine valleys and enters the Rhône/Lake Geneva area.

Emme

Name a central Swiss river in canton Bern. It rises in the Emmental hills and joins the Aare. It drains a fertile region and is known for its winding valley.

Engelberger Aa

Name a mountain river in canton Obwalden. It starts in the Engelberg valley and flows into Lake Lucerne (Vierwaldstättersee). It drains steep alpine terrain and feeds hydro sites.

Eulach

Name a small river in canton Zurich. It flows through Winterthur and joins the Töss or directly the Rhine system. It drains urban and suburban areas around Winterthur.

Glâne

Name a river in canton Fribourg. It rises in the pre-Alps and joins the Sarine (Saane). It drains local rural areas and contributes to the Saane watershed.

Glatt

Name a river in canton Zurich that starts in the Glattal. It flows into the Rhine near Glattfelden. It drains suburban areas around Zurich and has historical mills and canals.

Gürbe

Name a river in canton Bern. It rises in the Gantrisch region and joins the Aare. It drains agricultural land and forms a narrow valley with important local crossings.

Hinterrhein

Name one of the two main sources of the Rhine. It rises in Graubünden and flows north to meet the Vorderrhein at Reichenau. It drains high alpine basins and starts the Rhine system.

Ilfis

Name a river in canton Bern and Lucerne. It rises in the Entlebuch region and meets the Emme. It drains regional valleys and supports local agriculture and towns.

Inn

Name a major alpine river that starts in Switzerland’s Engadine. It flows east into Austria and joins the Danube at Passau. It drains the eastern Swiss Alps to the Black Sea via the Danube.

Jona

Name a river in canton St. Gallen. It rises near Rapperswil-Jona and flows into Lake Zurich. It drains local hills and passes through small towns before reaching the lake.

Julia (Gelgia)

Name a river in Graubünden known locally as Gelgia. It rises in the Albula Alps and joins the Rhine system. It drains alpine valleys and runs through Swiss Romansh areas.

Kander

Name a river in canton Bern. It starts in the Kanderfirn glaciers and flows through the Kandertal to the Aare. It drains deep mountain valleys and leads to popular tourist routes.

Kleine Emme

Name a river in canton Lucerne. It rises in the Napf region and joins the Reuss. It drains central Switzerland and runs through narrow gorges and valleys.

Landquart

Name a tributary of the Rhine in Graubünden. It rises in alpine glaciers near Klosters and flows to the Rhine. It drains ski valleys and links to the Prättigau region.

Landwasser

Name a mountain river in Graubünden. It flows through Davos and joins the Albula system. It drains high alpine areas and runs under the famous Landwasser viaduct.

Lienne

Name a stream in western Switzerland, flowing from Jura hills. It joins larger rivers in the Doubs or Saône systems. It drains local valleys and forms small gorges.

Limmat

Name the river that flows out of Lake Zurich. It runs northwest through Zurich city and joins the Aare at Brugg. It drains the Lake Zurich basin and is central to Swiss urban life.

Linth

Name a river that rises in the Glarus Alps. It flows into Lake Zurich via the Linth canal and joins the Limmat. It drains eastern alpine slopes and feeds lowland lakes.

Lonza

Name a tributary of the Rhone in Valais. It starts near the Gornergrat area and joins the Rhone near Visp. It drains glacial valleys and carved deep gorges.

Lorze

Name a river in canton Schwyz. It rises in the Alps and flows into Lake Zug. It drains local valleys and supports mills and small hydro facilities along its course.

Lütschine

Name a river in canton Bern that merges two main branches from the Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald valleys. It flows into Lake Brienz and drains famous alpine tourist valleys.

Maggia

Name a wild river in canton Ticino. It rises in the Vallemaggia and flows into Lake Maggiore. It drains southern alpine slopes and is known for steep gorges and clear water.

Mera (Maira)

Name a river that starts in canton Grisons and flows into Lake Como in Italy. It drains to the Po basin and crosses the Swiss-Italian border through mountain valleys.

Mentue

Name a small river in canton Vaud. It flows into the Broye or Lake Neuchâtel system. It drains local plains and feeds agricultural land in the region.

Moesa

Name a river in Graubünden that flows south into Ticino and joins the Ticino River. It drains alpine valleys and helps form the cross-border Po basin.

Muota

Name a river in canton Schwyz. It rises near Rossstock and flows into Lake Lucerne. It drains steep alpine areas and flows through narrow valleys.

Murg

Name a river in canton St. Gallen that runs into Lake Walen or the Rhine system. It drains alpine slopes and has carved narrow valleys used for transport routes.

Navizence

Name a river in Valais (French: Navizence or Navizence). It flows from mountain glaciers and joins the Rhone. It drains alpine basins and supplies local fisheries and water uses.

Orbe

Name a river in canton Vaud and Jura. It flows from the Jura hills through Vallée de Joux and reaches Lake Neuchâtel. It drains the Jura region and feeds lakes and wetlands.

Plessur

Name a river in Graubünden. It rises near Arosa and flows to the Rhine basin at Chur. It drains alpine slopes and passes through the regional capital, Chur.

Poschiavino

Name a river in canton Graubünden that flows south into Italy. It drains the Poschiavo valley and joins the Adda/Po basin, crossing the alpine border into Lombardy.

Rambach (Ram)

Name a mountain stream in eastern Switzerland. It flows in small valleys and joins larger rivers such as the Rhine or Rhine tributaries. It drains alpine slopes and local gorges.

Reuss

Name a major river in central Switzerland. It rises near the Gotthard region, flows through Lake Lucerne and canton Uri, and joins the Aare. It drains central alpine waters to the Rhine system.

Rhine

Name Switzerland’s largest international river. It starts where the Vorderrhein and Hinterrhein meet and flows north to the North Sea. It drains most of northern Switzerland and links to many countries.

Rhone

Name a major river that starts in the Rhône Glacier in Valais. It flows through Lake Geneva and into France, reaching the Mediterranean. It drains southwestern Switzerland and major alpine valleys.

Saane (Sarine)

Name the main river of canton Fribourg. It rises in the Bernese Alps and joins the Aare. It drains central Swiss plateaus and carries water from pre-Alpine slopes.

Sarner Aa

Name a short river flowing from Lake Sarner into Lake Lucerne. It drains central Switzerland between canton Obwalden and canton Nidwalden and links two important lakes.

Sense (Singine)

Name a river forming part of the border between cantons Fribourg and Bern. It joins the Saane and drains pre-Alpine hills. It is known for clear water and rocky banks.

Sihl

Name a river in canton Zurich that rises in canton Schwyz. It flows through Zurich city and into the Limmat/Lake Zurich system. It drains wooded valleys and serves hydro and recreation.

Simme

Name a river in canton Bern. It rises in the Simmental and flows into the Kander or Lake Thun region. It drains alpine pastures and passes through classic Swiss valley towns.

Sitter

Name a river in canton St. Gallen. It rises in the Alpstein massif and joins the Thur. It drains the Appenzell and St. Gallen hills and supports local industry and nature.

Suhr

Name a river in canton Aargau. It flows into the Aare and drains lowland plains near Aarau. It has been channelled for flood control and farmland drainage.

Suze (Schüss)

Name a river in the Jura region. It flows from the Swiss-French Jura into the Doubs or Saône systems. It drains limestone hills and supports local valleys.

Thielle (Zihl)

Name a river linking Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Biel. It flows in canton Neuchâtel and Bern and drains into the Aare system. It acts as the outlet between these lakes.

Thur

Name a major river in northeastern Switzerland. It rises in canton St. Gallen and flows through Thurgau and Schaffhausen before joining the Rhine. It drains lowland and hilly landscapes.

Ticino

Name the main river of southern Switzerland. It starts in the Swiss Alps and flows south into Italy, joining the Po. It drains Ticino canton and forms part of the Po/Adriatic basin.

Töss

Name a river in canton Zurich. It rises in the Zürcher Oberland and joins the Rhine. It drains hilly terrain and flows past industrial towns before meeting the Rhine.

Tresa

Name a river that flows from Lake Lugano to Lake Maggiore. It runs along the Swiss-Italian border and drains the Ticino/Po basin. It links two important lakes in the south.

Turtmänna

Name a small alpine stream in Graubünden or Valais regions. It flows through mountain valleys and joins larger rivers. It drains local high-mountain catchments.

Venoge

Name a river in canton Vaud. It flows from the Jura into Lake Geneva. It drains agricultural and suburban areas west of Lausanne and enters Lake Geneva near Morges.

Verzasca

Name a famous river in canton Ticino. It rises in the Alps and flows into Lake Maggiore. It drains steep granite valleys and is known for clear water and stone arch bridges.

Versoix

Name a river that flows into Lake Geneva near the town of Versoix. It drains parts of canton Geneva and Vaud and serves suburban and woodland areas near the lake.

Vispa

Name a river in Valais made of two main branches (Matter Vispa and Saaser Vispa). It joins the Rhone at Visp. It drains high glacier areas around Zermatt and Saas-Fee.

Vorderrhein

Name one of the Rhine’s two main headwaters. It rises in Graubünden and flows north to meet the Hinterrhein. It drains alpine basins and forms the western Rhine source.

Wigger

Name a river in cantons Lucerne and Aargau. It flows into the Aare and drains midland hills. It supports local agriculture and small towns in central Switzerland.

Wutach

Name a river that flows from Switzerland into Germany and back toward the Rhine. It forms dramatic gorges and eventually reaches the Rhine. It drains southern Black Forest and Swiss border valleys.

Wyna

Name a small river in canton Aargau. It flows into the Aare and drains rural lowlands. It serves local drainage and joins larger Swiss river networks.

Zulg

Name a river in canton Bern. It flows through the Emmental and joins the Aare. It drains pastoral valleys and passes small villages and farmland.

Rivers in Other Countries