Ríos

Ríos is the plural form of río in Spanish, meaning rivers. A río is a natural watercourse that collects precipitation and runoff, generally flowing from higher to lower elevations and discharging into larger bodies such as seas, lakes, or other rivers. Rivers vary in length, discharge, and flow regime, and they form drainage basins that drain landscapes.

A river's course includes source, course, and mouth, with features such as tributaries, floodplains, and deltas. They erode and transport sediment, supporting diverse ecosystems and shaping landscapes. Rivers can be perennial (year‑round flow) or intermittent (seasonal). Their hydrology is influenced by climate, geology, land cover, and human activity.

Humans rely on rivers for drinking water, irrigation, transportation, energy, and recreation. They have shaped cultures and settlement patterns and remain central to regional economies. River management seeks to balance water use with ecological protection and resilience to pollution, damming, and climate change.

Ríos is also a common Spanish surname and toponym. Derived from the word río, it originated as a toponym for people living near a river. Notable individuals with the surname appear across Spanish‑speaking countries.