The Rio Grande (Texas/New Mexico) – Lost to Agriculture & Drought Once a mighty river, the Rio Grande now disappears in some sections due to overuse for irrigation and prolonged droughts.
The Santa Cruz River (Arizona) – Sinks into the Desert This river flows briefly during monsoon season but quickly vanishes into the arid desert landscape, leaving behind a dry riverbed.
The Arkansas River (Kansas/Colorado) – Swallowed by Groundwater In parts of western Kansas, the river disappears as water seeps underground, a result of excessive agricultural water usage.
The Amargosa River (California/Nevada) – Evaporates in the Mojave Despite being a rare desert river, the Amargosa often disappears into the sand before reaching Death Valley’s Badwater Basin.
The Lost River (Idaho) – Disappears into Lava Fields True to its name, this river vanishes into porous volcanic rock, flowing underground before re-emerging miles away.