The rivers of Ecuador are an important part of the nation's geography and economy. Most of the over 2,000 rivers and streams have headwaters in the Andes

Andes

The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...

 mountain range, flowing therefrom either westward toward the Pacific Ocean

Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...

 or eastward toward the Amazon River

Amazon River

The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...

. Narrow in the highlands, the majority of the rivers broaden as they reach the lower elevations of the Coast

Regions of Ecuador

-Coast:The coastal region consists of the provinces to the West of the Andean range - , Esmeraldas, Guayas, Los Ríos, Manabí, El Oro, Santa Elena. It is the country's most fertile and productive land, and is the seat of the large banana exportation plantations of the companies Dole and Chiquita. ...

 and Oriente. During the rainy season, which lasts from January to April, the rivers that drain into the Pacific flood and often cause damage.

Geography

The two main water systems are the Esmeraldas River

Esmeraldas River

The Esmeraldas River is a river in northwestern Ecuador that flows into the Pacific Ocean. Charles Marie de la Condamine sailed up it and then climbed the Andes Mountains when on the Ecuadorian Expedition that left France in May 1735....

 in the North and the Guayas

Guayas River

The Guayas River is a river in western Ecuador. It gives name to the Guayas Province, and it is the most important river in South America that does not flow into the Atlantic Ocean or any of its seas. Its total length, including the Daule River, is 389 km.-Course:The Guayas River has one of...

 in the South.

The Esmeraldas begins as the Guayllabamba River

Guayllabamba River

The Guayllabamba is a river that originates in the east of Pichincha in northern Ecuador and flows into Esmeraldas. The river is named after the Guayllabamba plain....

 in the Sierra, flowing west before emptying in the Pacific near the city of Esmeraldas

Esmeraldas, Ecuador

Esmeraldas is a coastal city in northwestern Ecuador. It is the seat of the Esmeraldas Canton and the capital of the Esmeraldas Province. It has an international sea port and a small airport ....

.

The Guayas forms to the north of Guayaquil

Guayaquil

Guayaquil , officially Santiago de Guayaquil , is the largest and the most populous city in Ecuador,with about 2.3 million inhabitants in the city and nearly 3.1 million in the metropolitan area, as well as that nation's main port...

, where the Daule

Daule River

The Daule River is a river in Ecuador, in Guayas Province. At Guayaquil, it joins the Babahoyo River; from that point the confluence becomes the Guayas River.-Cities along the River:*Pichincha, Ecuador*Balzar*Colimes*Palestina*Santa Lucía*Daule...

 and the Babahoyo River

Babahoyo River

The Babahoyo River is a river in western Ecuador, fed by tributaries rising in the Andes Mountains. It takes its name from the town of Babahoyo in Los Ríos. At Durán, it joins the Daule River to form the Guayas River, which continues to the Pacific Ocean....

s converge. The Babahayo arises from its tributaries in the Andes. The Guayas basin covers 40,000 square kilometers.

The most important rivers in the Oriente are the Pastaza

Pastaza River

The Pastaza is a large tributary to the Amazon River.It has its headwaters in the province of Tungurahua, where the Tambo River joins the Latacunga River, near the foot of the Volcano Tungurahua, flowing south-east towards the Amazon Basin...

, Napo

Napo River

The Napo is a tributary to the Amazon River that rises in Ecuador on the flanks of the volcanoes of Antisana, Sincholagua and Cotopaxi.The total length of 1075 km. Catchment area of ​​100,518 square kilometers...

, and Putumayo

Putumayo River

The Içá or Putumayo River is one of the tributaries of the Amazon River, west of and parallel to the Yapura. It forms part of Colombia's border with Ecuador, as well as most of the frontier with Peru...

. The Pastaza includes the Agoyan Waterfall, Ecuador's highest.

Economy

Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the indigenous people of Ecuador used the rivers for fishing and transportation, although frequent waterfalls limited canoe travel in the Andes. The rivers long continued to be an important means of transportation, especially as the mountains made road and railroad building difficult.

Since the 20th century, rivers have become an important source of electric power in Ecuador. As of 2006, hydroelectric dams have a capacity 1,750 megawatts. Some critics have noted that these projects have tended to be "substantially oversized" without "delivering the promised energy benefits." In 2008, President Rafael Correa

Rafael Correa

Rafael Vicente Correa Delgado born is the President of the Republic of Ecuador and was the president pro tempore of the Union of South American Nations. An economist educated in Ecuador, Belgium and the United States, he was elected President in late 2006 and took office in January 2007...

 announced that the government planned to build eleven new hydroelectric power plants. Almost all of the dam projects face opposition from local communities that fear negative environmental impacts on the land and a lack of transparency in decision-making.

Recreational rafting on the rivers has become an important part of Ecuador's tourism-based economy.

Rivers

This listing is arranged by drainage basin, with respective tributaries indented under each larger stream's name.

Atlantic Ocean

• Amazon River
  Amazon River
  The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
  
  (Brazil, Peru)
  • Putumayo River
    Putumayo River
    The Içá or Putumayo River is one of the tributaries of the Amazon River, west of and parallel to the Yapura. It forms part of Colombia's border with Ecuador, as well as most of the frontier with Peru...
    
    
    • San Miguel River
      San Miguel River (Ecuador)
      The San Miguel River is a river of Ecuador and Peru. For much of its length it forms the international boundary between the two countries.-References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
      
      
  • Napo River
    Napo River
    The Napo is a tributary to the Amazon River that rises in Ecuador on the flanks of the volcanoes of Antisana, Sincholagua and Cotopaxi.The total length of 1075 km. Catchment area of ​​100,518 square kilometers...
    
    
    • Curaray River
      Curaray River
      The Curaray River is a river in eastern Ecuador and is part of the Amazon River basin. The land along the river is home to several indigenous people groups including the Quechua and Huaorani...
      
      
      • Cononaco River
        Cononaco River
        -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
        
        
    • Aguarico River
      Aguarico River
      The Aguarico River is a river in northern Ecuador. It is the main river of the Sucumbíos province. In the last part of its course it is the Ecuadorian-Peruvian border. It empties into the Napo River...
      
      
      • Cuyabeno River
    • Yasuní River
      Yasuní River
      -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
      
      
    • Tiputini River
      Tiputini River
      The Tiputini River is a tributary of the Napo River in eastern Ecuador. It is the first major, navagable river south of the Napo and forms the northern border of Yasuni National Park...
      
      
    • Coca River
      Coca River
      The Coca River is a river in eastern Ecuador. It is a tributary of the Napo River. The two rivers join in Puerto Francisco de Orellana....
      
      
    • Payamino River
      Payamino River
      -References:* Kichwa Community Development Project along the Payamino River * Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
      
      
  • Marañón River
    Marañón River
    The Marañón River rises about 160 km to the northeast of Lima, Peru, flows through a deeply-eroded Andean valley in a northwesterly direction, along the eastern base of the Cordillera of the Andes, as far as 5 degrees 36' southern latitude; then it makes a great bend to the northeast, and...
    
    (Peru)
    • Tigre River
      Tigre River
      The Tigre River is a Peruvian tributary of the Amazon River west of the Nanay, and is navigable for 125 miles from its confluence with the Amazon. It forms from the confluence of the Ecuadorian rivers Cunambo and Pintoyacu at the Peruvian border. Like the Nanay, it flows entirely on the plains. ...
      
      
      • Corrientes River
      • Conambo River
        Conambo River
        -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
        
        
      • Pintoyacu River
        Pintoyacu River
        -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
        
         or Pindoyacu
    • Pastaza River
      Pastaza River
      The Pastaza is a large tributary to the Amazon River.It has its headwaters in the province of Tungurahua, where the Tambo River joins the Latacunga River, near the foot of the Volcano Tungurahua, flowing south-east towards the Amazon Basin...
      
      
      • Huasaga River
        Huasaga River
        -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
        
        
      • Bobonaza River
        Bobonaza River
        The Bobonaza River is a river of Ecuador. It drains into the Pastaza River, and ultimately into the Amazon River at Iquitos in Peru.Its course runs mostly through Amazonian tropical rainforest, much of which is still sparsely populated...
        
        
      • Palora River
        Palora River
        -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
        
        
      • Chambo River
        Chambo River
        The Chambo River is a tributary of the Pastaza River in Ecuador. The Chambo rises on the Central Cordillera. Its main tributaries are the Guamote, Chibunga, Guano, Sicalpa, San Juan, and Blanco. The Chambo runs across the Province of Chimborazo, reaches the Province of Tungurahua where joins the...
        
        
      • Ambato River
        • Cutuchi River
          Cutuchi River
          -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
          
          
      • Cebadas River
        Cebadas River
        -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
        
        
    • Morona River
      Morona
      The Morona is a tributary to the Amazon River, and flows parallel to the Pastaza River and immediately to the west of it, and is the last stream of any importance on the northern side of the Amazon before reaching the Pongo de Manseriche....
      
      
      • Cangaime River
        Cangaime River
        -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
        
        
        • Macuma River
          Macuma River
          -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
          
          
    • Santiago River
      • Yaapi River
        Yaapi River
        -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
        
        
      • Upano River
        Upano River
        -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
        
        
        • Paute River
          Paute River
          The Paute River is a river of Ecuador. It is a tributary of the Santiago River, which is a tributary of the Amazon River. The Paute Dam is located on the river.-References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
          
          
          • Matadero River
            Matadero River
            -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
            
             or Cuenca
            • Machángara River
              Machángara River
              -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
              
              
            • Tomebamba River
              Tomebamba River
              The Tomebamba River is a river of Ecuador. It runs through the city of Cuenca.-References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
              
              
            • Tarqui River
              Tarqui River
              -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
              
              
            • Yanuncay River
              Yanuncay River
              The Yanuncay River is a river of Ecuador. It runs through the city of Cuenca.-References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
              
              
      • Zamora River
        Zamora River
        The Zamora River is a tributary of the Santiago River located in the south-east of Ecuador. Historically, it was known to the Spanish as Yaya Mayu , from the river's name among a group of Shuar encountered nearby.The sources of the Zamora River are in the Podocarpus National Park, specifically at...
        
        
    • Chinchipe River
      Chinchipe river
      The Chinchipe River is a river in northern Peru. It rises in the Cajamarca Region's San Ignacio Province and flows in an eastwardly direction....
      
      

Pacific Ocean

• Mira River
  Mira River (South America)
  -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
  
  
  • San Juan River
    • Carchi River
      Carchi River
      -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
      
      
  • Chota River
• Cayapas River
  Cayapas River
  -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
  
  
  • Santiago River
  • Onzole River
    Onzole River
    -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
    
    
• Muisne River
  Muisne River
  -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
  
  
• Cojimies River
  Cojimies River
  -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
  
  
• Esmeraldas River
  Esmeraldas River
  The Esmeraldas River is a river in northwestern Ecuador that flows into the Pacific Ocean. Charles Marie de la Condamine sailed up it and then climbed the Andes Mountains when on the Ecuadorian Expedition that left France in May 1735....
  
  
  • Guayllabamba River
    Guayllabamba River
    The Guayllabamba is a river that originates in the east of Pichincha in northern Ecuador and flows into Esmeraldas. The river is named after the Guayllabamba plain....
    
    
    • Machángara River
      Machángara River
      -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
      
      
  • Blanco River
    • Toachi River
      Toachi River
      The Toachi River is a river of Ecuador. It is located a few hours from Quito and is the country's most popular river for rafting.-References:*...
      
      
  • Quininde River
    Quininde River
    -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
    
    
• Jama River
  Jama River
  -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
  
  
• Chone River
  Chone River
  -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
  
  
  • Carrizal River
    Carrizal River
    -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
    
    
• Portoviejo River
  Portoviejo River
  -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
  
  
• Jipijapa River
  Jipijapa River
  -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
  
  
• Guayas River
  Guayas River
  The Guayas River is a river in western Ecuador. It gives name to the Guayas Province, and it is the most important river in South America that does not flow into the Atlantic Ocean or any of its seas. Its total length, including the Daule River, is 389 km.-Course:The Guayas River has one of...
  
  
  • Taura River
    Taura River
    The Taura River is a river of Ecuador. It flows into the Churute Estuary in the Gulf of Guayaquil. It gives its name to the shrimp disease Taura syndrome, which was first described in shrimp farms along the river....
    
    
  • Daule River
    Daule River
    The Daule River is a river in Ecuador, in Guayas Province. At Guayaquil, it joins the Babahoyo River; from that point the confluence becomes the Guayas River.-Cities along the River:*Pichincha, Ecuador*Balzar*Colimes*Palestina*Santa Lucía*Daule...
    
    
    • Pula River
      Pula River
      -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
      
      
    • Magro River
      Magro River
      -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
      
       or Pedro Carbo
    • Colimes River
      Colimes River
      -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
      
      
      • Boqueron River
        Boqueron River
        -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
        
        
    • Puca River
      Puca River
      -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
      
      
    • Congo River
      Congo River (Ecuador)
      -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
      
      
  • Babahoyo River
    Babahoyo River
    The Babahoyo River is a river in western Ecuador, fed by tributaries rising in the Andes Mountains. It takes its name from the town of Babahoyo in Los Ríos. At Durán, it joins the Daule River to form the Guayas River, which continues to the Pacific Ocean....
    
    
    • Yaguachi River
      Yaguachi River
      -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
      
      
      • Milagro River
        Milagro River
        -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
        
        
      • Chimbo River
        Chimbo River
        -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
        
        
      • Chanchán River
        Chanchán River
        -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
        
        
    • Vinces River
      Vinces River
      -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
      
      
      • Palenque River
        Palenque River
        -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
        
        
    • Catarama River
      Catarama River (Ecuador)
      -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
      
      
      • Zapotal River
        Zapotal River
        -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
        
        
    • San Pablo River
• Cañar River
  Cañar River
  -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
  
  
• Balao River
  Balao River
  -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
  
  
• Jubones River
  Jubones River
  -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
  
  
• Arenillas River
  Arenillas River
  -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
  
  
• Zarumilla River
  Zarumilla River
  The Zarumilla River is a river in South America that marks the border between Peru and Ecuador. It is named after the Peruvian town of Zarumilla....
  
  
• Tumbes River
  Tumbes River
  The Tumbes River , is a river in South America.The river's sources are located between Ecuadorian El Oro and Loja provinces. It is the border between El Oro and Loja, and afterwards the border between Loja and the Tumbes Region in Peru...
  
  
  • Puyango River
• Chira River
  Chira River
  Río Chira is the name of a river in northern Peru whose mouth is 20 km north of the provincial capital of Piura.Its source is in the Ecuadorian Andes near the town of Papaca in the province Loja from where it flows for ca 250 km in easterly directions...
  
  
  • Catamayo River
    Catamayo River
    -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...
    
    
    • Calvas River
      Calvas River
      -References:* Rand McNally, The New International Atlas, 1993.* *...