Korkodon

The Korkodon (Коркодон; ) is a river in Magadan Oblast, Russian Far East. It is a right tributary of the Kolyma, with a length of 476 km a drainage basin of 42800 km2. The upper reaches of the river are in Omsukchansky District, then it flows across the Srednekansky District in its lower course. The name of the river originated in the Northern Yukaghir language.

The Korkodon basin is a desolate area; there are no settlements, but since the lower reaches of the river are navigable; timber rafting was carried out in the 20th century.

Course
The Korkodon is the fifth longest tributary of the Kolyma and the third in basin area. It has its sources in the Korkodon Range of the Kolyma Mountains. It heads first roughly northwards within a swampy valley between the Korkodon Range to the west and the Molkaty and Kongin ranges to the east. Halfway through its course it bends and flows west and then southwestwards, fringing the Yukaghir Highlands. In its lower course it meanders and flows through a wide flat valley. Finally the river joins the right bank of the Kolyma 1228 km from its mouth at an elevation of 93 m.

The Korkodon has some very long tributaries. The most important ones are the 428 km long Bulun and the 239 km long Bolshoy Yarkodon from the right; and the 208 km long Pungali and the 156 km long Biliriken from the left. There are over 1,100 lakes in the Korkodon basin, most of them of the thermokarst type (alas), as well as swamps. The river freezes between mid October and mid May, but polynyas may form in the lower reaches.

Fauna
Among the fish species found in the river Arctic char, pike, sucker, lenok and whitefish deserve mention.