| Taskan Таскан | |
|---|---|
  Mouth location inMagadan Oblast, Russia | |
| Location | |
| Federal subject | Magadan Oblast,Russia |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Chersky Range |
| • elevation | 918 m (3,012 ft) |
| Mouth | Kolyma |
• coordinates | 62°40′10″N150°53′22″E / 62.66944°N 150.88944°E /62.66944; 150.88944 |
• elevation | 301 m (988 ft) |
| Length | 232 km (144 mi) |
| Basin size | 11,200 km2 (4,300 sq mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Kolyma→East Siberian Sea |
TheTaskan (Russian:Таскан) is a river in theSusuman andYagodninsky districts ofMagadan Oblast,Russia. It is a left hand tributary of theKolyma. Its length is 232 kilometres (144 mi), with adrainage basin of 11,200 square kilometres (4,300 sq mi).[1] The Taskan was first mapped in the 19th century by explorerJan Czerski.[2]
Perch,ruffe,gudgeon andburbot are found in the waters of the river.[2]
The Taskan River begins in the southeastern slopes of 1,820 m (5,970 ft) high Mount Shoguchan, at the eastern end of theChersky Range in an area ofice fields, the largest of which is 16 km2 (6.2 sq mi). It heads roughly southeastwards acrosspermafrost terrain covered by tundra vegetation interspersed with sparse taiga. Finally it joins the left bank of the Kolyma between theKolyma Dam and theUst-Srednekan Dam,[3] 1,754 km (1,090 mi) 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 ofTaskan andElgen, as well as the also abandonedUst-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]