| Taskan | |
| Other Name: | Таскан |
| Pushpin Map: | Russia Magadan Oblast |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Mouth location in Magadan Oblast, Russia |
| Source1 Elevation: | 918m (3,012feet) |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 62.6694°N 150.8894°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 301m (988feet) |
| Subdivision Type1: | Federal subject |
| Length: | 232km (144miles) |
| Basin Size: | 11200km2 |
The Taskan (Russian: Таскан) is a river in the Susuman and Yagodninsky districts of Magadan Oblast, Russia. It is a left hand tributary of the Kolyma. Its length is 232km (144miles), with a drainage basin of 11200km2.[1] The Taskan was first mapped in the 19th century by explorer Jan Czerski.
Perch, ruffe, gudgeon and burbot are found in the waters of the river.[2]
The Taskan River begins in the southeastern slopes of 1820m (5,970feet) high Mount Shoguchan, at the eastern end of the Chersky Range in an area of ice fields, the largest of which is 16km2. It heads roughly southeastwards across permafrost terrain covered by tundra vegetation interspersed with sparse taiga. Finally it joins the left bank of the Kolyma between the Kolyma Dam and the Ust-Srednekan Dam,[3] 1754km (1,090miles) from its mouth.[2]
The Taskan is located in a sparsely-populated region of severe cold winters. Its main tributaries are the Mylga and the Sudar. The only populated places by the river were the now abandoned villages of Taskan and Elgen, as well as the also abandoned Ust-Taskan settlement located at the confluence with the Kolyma.[3] The river usually freezes in early October and stays frozen until May. The highest water flow is between mid-May to June in average years.[2]