Teshio River

Teshio River
天塩川
Teshio River in Shibetsu
Native nameTeshio-gawa (Japanese)
Location
CountryJapan
StateHokkaido
RegionRumoi, Kamikawa, Sōya
MunicipalitiesBifuka, Horonobe, Kenbuchi, Nakagawa, Nayoro, Otoineppu, Shibetsu, Shimokawa, Teshio, Toyotomi, Wakkanai, Wassamu
Physical characteristics
SourceMount Teshio
  locationShibetsu, Hokkaido, Japan
  coordinates43°57′52″N 142°52′51″E / 43.96444°N 142.88083°E / 43.96444; 142.88083
  elevation1,558 m (5,112 ft)
MouthSea of Japan
  location
Teshio and Horonobe, Hokkaido, Japan
  coordinates
44°52′44″N 141°44′18″E / 44.87889°N 141.73833°E / 44.87889; 141.73833
  elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length256 km (159 mi)
Basin size5,590 km2 (2,160 sq mi)
Discharge 
  average110 m3/s (3,900 cu ft/s)

The Teshio River (天塩川, Teshio-gawa) is a river in Hokkaido, Japan. At 256 kilometres (159 mi), it is the second-longest river on the island (after the Ishikari) and the fourth-longest in the country (after the Shinano, Tone, and Ishikari). A Class A river, the Teshio is the northernmost major river in Japan, and has been designated Hokkaidō Heritage. Matsuura Takeshirō is said to have come up with the name "Hokkaidō" during his exploration of the river's interior.