The river basin of the Mezen comprises vast areas in the east and north-east of Arkhangelsk Oblast and in the west of the Komi Republic.

The source of the Mezen is in the Timan Ridge in the Komi Republic, west of the northern Ural Mountains.

The Mezen was used by Novgorod merchants as the trading route to the basin of the Pechora which was attractive because of the fur.

The first permanent Russian settlements on the Mezen River are mentioned during the 16th century: Yuroma (1513) and Koynas (1554).

[3] The middle course of the Mezen, approximately the current area of Leshukonsky District, was where Russian and Komi cultures mixed the most.