The longest river in Ohio is obvious. Do the others surprise you?

Did you know that Ohio is named after the Seneca word for river?

The Seneca people, who spoke Seneca, an Iroquoian language, named Ohio after the Ohio River. According to WorldAtlas, it can mean “good river,” “large creek,” or “great river.” Ohio’s rivers are important because they provide water for both domestic and industrial use.

The Great River of Ohio is just that: the longest river to touch the Buckeye State’s soil. Here are the 10 longest rivers in Ohio.

1. Ohio River – 981 miles

The Ohio River is the longest in Ohio. This river flows a whopping 981 miles from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Cairo, Illinois, where it meets the Mississippi. The watershed extends across 15 states.

From streams to ice floes: People walked across a frozen Ohio River in 1977. See the photos

2. Wabash River – 816 kilometers

Although the Wabash River flows through Indiana and is the state river of Indiana, it begins in Ohio. This 503-mile-long river flows from Ohio to Indiana and ends in Illinois, where it empties into the Ohio River, making it the largest northern tributary of Ohio’s namesake river.

3. Scioto River – 231 miles

Have you ever taken a walk on Columbus’ Scioto Mile? The Scioto River runs right through it.

The Scioto River flows only 231 miles in Ohio, from Auglaize County to Portsmouth. This river receives its waters from the Olentangy River and flows into the Ohio River. In the early days of Ohio, Native Americans and settlers used the Scioto River for transportation, and now it is used for recreation and domestic purposes.

4. Great Miami River – 257 kilometers

Another tributary of the Ohio River is the 160-mile-long Great Miami River. The river flows almost exclusively in the Buckeye State before briefly crossing the Ohio-Indiana state line before emptying into the Ohio.

Sydney, Hamilton, Troy, Piqua and Dayton are some of the cities located on the banks of the Great Miami River.

A victory for conservation: Land where the Ohio and Great Miami rivers meet is protected

5. Maumee River – 139 miles

The Maumee River begins its 137-mile journey toward Maumee Bay and the shores of Lake Erie at Toledo in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. This river forms at the confluence of the St. Marys and St. Joseph Rivers.

6. Sandusky River – 133 miles

According to the Ohio State Government website, the Sandusky River flows 133 miles (214 km) from the confluence of Paramour Creek and Allen Run near Leesville until it reaches Sandusky Bay in Lake Erie.

This river is considered underdeveloped. The surrounding area consists of swamps and peatlands. The catchment area is home to 220,000 people.

7. Tuscarawas River – 130 miles

The Tuscarawas River, named for a Native American village, flows near the city of Coshocton for part of its 130 miles, according to the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District. The river begins near Akron and is a tributary of the Muskingum River, where it ends.

This river is used for recreation, such as fishing and canoeing, and provides habitat for wildlife.

8. Raccoon Creek – 184 kilometers

According to Ohio Watershed Data, the Raccoon River flows through Ohio’s Athens, Hocking, Vinton, Jackson, Meigs and Gallia counties for 115 miles (184 km) before emptying into the Ohio River.

This river needs to be protected because of pollution from oil, natural gas and other harmful substances.

9. Auglaize River – 182 kilometers

The Auglaize River is a tributary of the Maumee River, so its waters eventually flow into Lake Erie. It is located entirely in Ohio and is approximately 113 miles long, according to Natural Atlas. The Auglaize’s headwaters begin near Lima, Ohio, and the river is a popular spot for canoeing.

10. Mahoning River – 182 kilometers

This fluid list of rivers concludes with the Mahoning River. It begins in northeastern Ohio and runs through Pennsylvania, where it eventually joins the Beaver River and later the Ohio River.

According to Friends of the Mahoning River, this watershed played a major role in the development of Youngstown, Ohio, and laid the foundation for population and industrial growth in the 19th and 20th centuries.