Pennsylvania's Rivers: A Keystone State Water Atlas

Pennsylvania's 86,000+ miles of streams and rivers—second only to Alaska—drain to three basins: Atlantic (Susquehanna, Delaware), Gulf of Mexico (Ohio via Allegheny/Monongahela), and Great Lakes (Erie). Major rivers:

Susquehanna Basin (Chesapeake Bay)

• Susquehanna River (444 mi, PA's longest) — West Branch, North Branch, Juniata, Loyalsock, Pine, Sinnemahoning.

Delaware Basin

• Delaware River (330 mi) — Lehigh, Schuylkill, Lackawanna, Neshaminy, Perkiomen, Wissahickon, Brandywine Creek.

Ohio Basin (via Allegheny & Monongahela)

• Allegheny River (325 mi) — Clarion, Oil, Kiskiminetas, Turtle, Youghiogheny.
• Monongahela River (128 mi) — Cheat, Youghiogheny (shared).
• Beaver River — Ohio tributary.

Lake Erie Basin

• Short tributaries: Conneaut, Elk, Walnut Creeks.

Notable Creeks (often river-scale)

Conestoga, Raystown Branch Juniata, Mahantango, Tioga, Cohansey (NJ border), Oil Creek (birthplace of US oil industry).

PA's rivers powered industrialization (coal, steel, oil), sustain agriculture, recreation, and 10M+ people's water supply—and remain central to Chesapeake Bay restoration.