Merkys

(Russian name, Merkis), a river in the southern Lithuanian SSR (it originates in Byelorussian SSR), a right tributary of the Nemunas (Neman). Length, 206 km; basin area, 4, 440 sq km.

The Merkys originates in the Oshmiany Upland (Aŝmena Upland). It is meandering in its upper and lower courses; it is fed primarily by groundwaters. There is high water from March through May. At 14 km from its mouth, the mean flow rate is 35.2 cu m per sec; the maximum flow rate is 498 cu m per sec. There is ice on the river from December through March, but the river does not freeze over for long (up to 1.5 months). The Merkys is used for floating timber.