Red River Makes List of Most Dangerous River in the World

If you live in here in the south chances are you have traveled over the Red River and probably not even given it one thought as to how big the river is and just how dangerous. In Texarkana, the Red River divides the state border of Texas and Arkansas.

Most Dangerous River in the World

The Red River is 1,360 miles long and serves as the boundary between Texas and Oklahoma. According to the website, Far & Wide the Red River has just been named the 25th Most Dangerous River in the World in 2024. What makes it so dangerous is the strong undercurrent and whirlpools that make it very dangerous to navigate through. The river is very unpredictable and can change in a matter of minutes if someone falls into the river the whirlpools and swirling water combined with the undertow could swallow up the person making it treacherous for rescuers to get to them.

The Red River begins in New Mexico flowing across the theTexas-Oklahoma border and into Arkansas before joining the the Mississippi River through Louisiana. Quicksand is common in some areas especially as it winds through some wild country from Denison Dam at Lake Texoma into Arkansas. The lower parts of the river flow through a series of marshes and swamps that can make it more difficult to maneuver.

The Red River is considered the second-longest river in the state of Texas and is known for its red color that is due because the river has a high salt content with large quantities of red soil and sand that occur during flood periods.

The depth of the Red River can fluctuate between 100 feet to 500 feet in the North to 90 feet in the South. Average depths are between 10 to 30 feet.  The shallowest part of the river is located along the border between Texas and Oklahoma.

Is it safe to swim in the Red River?

Not recommended unless you like swimming in excess sediment, human waste from broken septic systems, not to mention broken bottles, broken tree debris, rocks, and other pollutants. If you decide to swim in the shallow parts swim at your own risk, remember there are snakes, alligators, and other wildlife that could spell danger to a swimmer.

But if you are looking to fish in the Red River it offers some of the best fishing around with an abundance of smallmouth bass, fresh-water drum, sauger, bullheads, walleye, goldeye, mooneye, carp, and lake sturgeon. Check out this 2024 complete guide to fishing in the Red River.

Did you know there are two Red Rivers in North America?

The Red River in the South and the Red River in the North which flows from Minnesota into Manitoba and Lake Winnipeg in Canada.

The Red River in the South is the 25th Most Dangerous River in the World, the only other river in the United States that made the list is the longest in America, the mighty Mississippi River at #11.