There are 15 major rivers in Texas, some flowing through rugged, remote and scenic regions of the state, others giving life to urban areas. The rivers are valued not only as natural wonders by outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers, they also bring water to Texas farmers and ranchers, plus electricity and water to communities, making them a valuable and protected resource.
Nine of the 15 major rivers flow from northwest to southwest across the state into the Gulf of Mexico. From east to west they are the Sabine, Neches, Trinity, Brazos, Colorado, Guadalupe, San Antonio, Nueces and Rio Grande.
Texas' borders are defined by rivers in the east, north and south. The Sabine defines much of the Louisiana-Texas border, the Red River is a large portion of the borderline between Texas from Oklahoma, and the Rio Grande separates Texas from Mexico.
In Texas, it is called the Rio Grande, but Mexicans refer to the border river as the Rio Bravo. Whatever the name, rafters and kayakers are drawn to western stretches of the river in Big Bend National Park, while birding enthusiasts are drawn to the river's banks as it flows into the Gulf of Mexico.
The San Antonio River flows through the city of the same name. In Austin, the portion of the Colorado River flowing through downtown is lined hiking and bike trails, and is named Lady Bird Lake in honor of the nature-loving First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson.
The Red River flows past the colorful cliffs of the scenic Palo Duro Canyon in West Texas. Further south, visitors to New Braunfels are likely to hear squeals of delight as families tube on the Guadalupe River.
The Colorado River, running through the center of the state from the New Mexico border to the Gulf, is the largest river within the state's borders. In the 1930s and 1940s, the waters were corralled into several large lakes in the Texas Hill Country to provide water and electricity to the region.
