Pelym

Pelym belongs to the forest and river country east of the northern Urals, where waterways connect local communities with the western Siberian interior. Fishing, hunting, gathering, and other activities adapted to the taiga support households spread across broad territories. Rivers and carrying routes provide access during warmer months, while snow and ice create alternative pathways. Knowledge of animals, water, and seasonal conditions is essential to maintaining food and communication.

Pelym was associated with a Mansi political centre whose rulers and communities held lands along the Pelym and neighbouring rivers. In the 1590s Russian forces defeated its rulers and established a fortified settlement at the former centre. Tribute collection followed, and Mansi resistance continued, including an uprising in 1598. Rivers linked the fort to routes across the Urals and into Siberia.