The Rivers in Jamaica
Scenic & Serene

Buff Bay River, Portland Jamaica

Mention 'rivers in Jamaica' and I get quite excited - I love 'em! I grew up only walking distance from a small one in my community and so I took every opportunity to take that route when going out.

I enjoyed the exciting sound of the rushing waters, but my real interest was in the fishing! [although I never caught a fish]

We have over 100 rivers here in Jamaica, although many are unexplored and not navigable. The height of the mountains causes them to run swiftly in deep beds, and their courses are sometimes broken by waterfalls.

The Black River is the largest (widest) river in Jamaica. It is 73 kilometers long, and for 28 kilometers from its mouth it is navigable for small vessels.

Today, there is an increased interest in rafting and other watersport (see sports in Jamaica) activities with our rivers, and therefore, some of the once unexplored rivers are now used for these purposes.

For the most part though, the rivers in Jamaica are still used for irrigation and domestic purposes particularly by the rural folks.

The Rio Minho is the longest river in Jamaica. It rises close to the mainland's geographic centre, flowing generally south-southwest, reaching the Caribbean Sea at Carlisle Bay in the central south coast, to the west of the island's southern-most point, Portland Point. The town of May Pen in Clarendon lies on the banks of the it.

We also have some underground rivers in the limestone region of Jamaica, for example, the Hectors and Cave Rivers.

The White River In Ocho Rios, Jamaica

It is worth noting that the parish of St. Ann, because it is mainly of limestone formation, has no rivers in its interior. When swollen by exceptional rainfall the underground reservoirs sometimes rise to the surface as lakes.

It is said that the Moneague Lake (near Moneague in St. Ann) last rose in 1970 but disappeared in 1971.

Three (3) of the most popular rivers used for Rafting in Jamaica are:

• The Great River
• Rio Grande
• Martha Brae River
  

Here now is a list of the 22 main rivers in Jamaica (sorted alphabetically) courtesy of the National Library:

I guess my community river (Robin's River) was too small to make this list :-( , but I am good :-)

Here are a few more pictures as well.

Sharing IS Caring! Please help me get the message out by sharing this article with your friends on social media (links below). Thnx ;-)

If you found this page useful, please consider subscribing to my weekly newsletter, to get even more. 

It tells you each week about the new information that I have added, including new developments and great stories from lovers of Jamaica! 

Return to Beaches in Jamaica from Rivers in Jamaica
Return to My Island Jamaica from Jamaican Rivers

References For Rivers In Jamaica

• "PHYSICAL FEATURES", http://www.discoverjamaica.com/gleaner/discover/geography/features.htm
  
  
• "Geography", http://www.everytingjamaican.com/jamaica/geography/

Other Pages Related To Rivers In Jamaica

Any by the way, here also are more insightful pages about Jamaica, that will interest you:

• Scuba Diving in Jamaica
• The Jamaica Travel Guide
• Beaches in Jamaica
• Hotels in Jamaica
• Cheap Hotels in Jamaica
• Local Product/Services

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.

Back To The Top Of This Page

New! Get My Latest Book👇🏿

You asked, I've answered! You no longer need to save for months or years, to enjoy paradise! JAMAICA On A Budget is your passport to experiencing what I call 'The Real Jamaica' on a budget! I spilled the beans! sharing my top tips on finding cozy accommodations and secret gems, only the way a native could! Click Here to pick it up on my e-store and start saving now!

See The Best Of Jamaica - In Videos!

My channel reaches over 140,000 subscribers worldwide and has leveraged over 11 million views, sharing, what I call 'The Real Jamaica'. Subscribe today and join our family of viewers.

Read More ...

New! Experience The REAL Jamaica!
Book Your Private Tour here and experience Jamaica the way we (locals) do!

---

P.S. Didn't find what you were looking for? 
Still need help?

Click Here to try our dependable and effective Site Search tool. It works!

Or, simply click here and here, to browse my library of over 500 questions and answers! Chances are someone already asked (and got an answer to) your question.

---

SHOP JAMAICAN Book Local Tours

Book Your Vacation Travel TIPS and Cautions

Watch My Videos!

Featured Video!

Travelling To Jamaica? 

Read this BEFORE you go

👇🏿

Recent Articles

• 
• 
• 

1. Wild Hops: Jamaica’s New Hope for Diabetes

   Jun 19, 25 09:51 PM

   Wild Hops: Jamaica’s New Hope for Diabetes? Out in the countryside of Jamaica, you’ll sometimes stumble on a soft, bushy plant with a gentle

   Read More

2. Birthday Certificate Correction

   Jun 18, 25 01:15 PM

   Question from Shelly Tennet, NY, USA: Good Evening, I am currently a legal resident of the United States but am a citizen of Jamaica. I recently

   Read More

3. Is It Possible to Trace Who Previously Owned Land in Jamaica?

   Jun 18, 25 12:52 PM

   Question from Carl Williams, London, England: Please could you inform me, how can I find the purchase history of an acre of land I wish to

   Read More

4. What Are Some Hidden Gems in Western Jamaica for Nature Lovers?

   Jun 17, 25 11:47 AM

   Question from Christine: I am looking for off-the-grid or, in other words, alternatives to the highly marketed tourist excursions/sites such as

   Read More

5. How Long Does a Splinter Title Take to Process in Jamaica?

   Jun 13, 25 03:18 PM

   Question from Lloyd Castro: SPLINTER TITLE APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED TO THE TITLE OFFICE IN APRIL 2022. APPROXIMATELY HOW LONG DOES IT TAKES TO

   Read More