Merchimden

The Merchimden (Мерчимден) is a river in Yakutia (Sakha Republic), Russia. It is a tributary of the Olenyok with a length of 218 km and a drainage basin area of 4080 km2.

The river flows north of the Arctic Circle across a lonely, desolate area of Olenyoksky District devoid of settlements.

Course
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 539 km 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.

The river is frozen between the first half of October and early June.

Tributaries
The main tributaries of the Merchimden are the 46 km long Khayalaakh-Yurekh (Хайалаах-Юрэх) and the 40 km long Magan-Khayalaakh (Маган-Хайалаах) from the left, as well as the 28 km long Pastaakh-Yurekh (Паастаах-Юрэх) and the 27 km long Ulakhan-Kurung-Yurekh (Улахан-Курунг-Юрэх) from the right.