| Merkys | |
|---|---|
 Confluence of the Merkys and Neman at Merkinė | |
| Location | |
| Country | Lithuania (3,781 km2 or 1,460 sq mi), Belarus (635 km2 or 245 sq mi) |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | 18 km (11 mi) southwest from Ašmiany, Belarus |
| • elevation | 136 m (446 ft) |
| Mouth | Neman |
• location | near Merkinė |
• coordinates | 54°09′23″N 24°11′07″E / 54.15639°N 24.18528°E |
| Length | 213 km (132 mi) |
| Basin size | 4,416 km2 (1,705 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 21 m3/s (740 cu ft/s) (near Varėna) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Neman→ Baltic Sea |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Šalčia, Verseka, Ūla |
| • right | Spengla, Varėnė |
The Merkys (Belarusian: Мяркіс, romanized: Miarkis) is a river in southern Lithuania and northern Belarus. It flows for 13 km (8 mi) through Belarus, 5 km (3 mi) along the Belarusian–Lithuanian border, and 195 km (121 mi) through Lithuania before joining the Nemunas from the right bank near Merkinė.
The Merkys is mostly fed by underground streams and therefore is cooler during summers and has smaller fluctuations in water level than other rivers in Lithuania.[1] Near Žagarinė (128 km or 80 mi before its mouth) the Merkys is connected with Lake Papys by a canal. The Vokė originates from this lake and consumes most of the Merkys' water. Before the canal average discharge of the Merkys is 3 m3/s (110 cu ft/s) and below it only 0.7 m3/s (25 cu ft/s).[1] At the end of the 19th century the drainage basin of the Merkys grew by some 410 km2 (160 sq mi) as its tributary Ūla overtook some of the Kotra's watershed area.[1]
The Merkys is a popular destination among water tourism enthusiasts as part of it belongs to the Dzūkija National Park and it flows into the Neman near the historical site of Merkinė. Archaeological findings show that people inhabited the area as early as the Mesolithic period. The Merkys is known for its diverse fauna, being declared a reservoir for trout in 1974.[1]
Name[edit]
The name of the river, Merkys, originate from merkti, an appellative word in the Lithuanian language meaning to soak.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Jonas Zinkus; et al., eds. (1987). "Merkys". Tarybų Lietuvos enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Vol. III. Vilnius, Lithuania: Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija. pp. 54–55.
- ^ Zinkevičius, Zigmas (2007). Senosios Lietuvos valstybės vardynas. Vilnius: Science and Encyclopaedia Publishing Institute. p. 48. ISBN 978-5-420-01606-0.
Tributaries of the Neman River | ||
|---|---|---|
| Main tributaries of the left bank |  | |
| Main tributaries of the right bank | ||
| Distributary |
| |
Well, that’s interesting to know that Psilotum nudum are known as whisk ferns. Psilotum nudum is the commoner species of the two. While the P. flaccidum is a rare species and is found in the tropical islands. Both the species are usually epiphytic in habit and grow upon tree ferns. These species may also be terrestrial and grow in humus or in the crevices of the rocks.
View the detailed Guide of Psilotum nudum: Detailed Study Of Psilotum Nudum (Whisk Fern), Classification, Anatomy, Reproduction