| Merchimden | |
| Other Name: | Мерчимден |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 69.2004°N 118.8693°W |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 70.2902°N 119.2542°W |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Length: | 218km (135miles) (344km (214miles)) |
| Basin Size: | 4080km2 |
| Pushpin Map: | Russia Sakha Republic#Russia |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Mouth location in Yakutia, Russia |
The Merchimden (Russian: Мерчимден) is a river in Yakutia (Sakha Republic), Russia. It is a tributary of the Olenyok with a length of 218km (135miles) and a drainage basin area of 4080km2.
The river flows north of the Arctic Circle across a lonely, desolate area of Olenyoksky District devoid of settlements.[1]
The Merchimden originates in the eastern fringes of the Central Siberian Plateau, very near the sources of the east-flowing Motorchuna. The river flows initially to the northeast, then roughly northwards all along its course, parallel to the Olenyok flowing in the same direction a little further to the west. In its last stretch it meanders very strongly. Finally it meets the right bank of the Olenyok 539km (335miles) from its mouth. The confluence is just a little downstream from a very strong eastward bend of the Olenyok. There are a few small lakes just east of the confluence.[2]
The river is frozen between the first half of October and early June.[3]
The main tributaries of the Merchimden are the 46km (29miles) long Khayalaakh-Yurekh (Хайалаах-Юрэх) and the 40km (30miles) long Magan-Khayalaakh (Маган-Хайалаах) from the left, as well as the 28km (17miles) long Pastaakh-Yurekh (Паастаах-Юрэх) and the 27km (17miles) long Ulakhan-Kurung-Yurekh (Улахан-Курунг-Юрэх) from the right.[2]
