Freshwater Discharge into the Atlantic Ocean: 2.4 Million Gallons Per Second

North American rivers collectively discharge approximately 2,400,000 gallons (9,085 cubic meters) of fresh water into the Atlantic Ocean every second. This immense flow—dominated by the Mississippi, St. Lawrence, and Amazon (though the Amazon empties into the South Atlantic)—influences ocean salinity, circulation, and coastal ecosystems. The figure represents the combined outflow of all rivers draining into the Atlantic from the North American continent.