Ölüöxüme

The Olyokma flows north through the mountains and forests of eastern Siberia to join the Lena. Its valley links the southern uplands with the great river of Yakutia, receiving the Tungir and Chara along its course. In 1649 Yerofey Khabarov travelled up the Olyokma and Tungir, then crossed the watershed toward the Shilka and the upper Amur. His expedition followed waterways that opened a path between the Lena basin and the lands to the south.