| Olyokma Yakut:Өлүөхүмэ | |
|---|---|
 View of the river | |
  Location in theSakha Republic, Russia | |
| Location | |
| Country | Russia |
| Region | Zabaykalsky Krai,Yakutia |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Muroy Range,Olyokma-Stanovik |
| • location | Tungiro-Olyokminsky District,Zabaykalsky Krai |
| • coordinates | 53°44′42″N117°20′16″E / 53.74500°N 117.33778°E /53.74500; 117.33778 |
| • elevation | 1,500 m (4,900 ft) |
| Mouth | Lena |
• location | Troitsk, Yakutia |
• coordinates | 60°22′27″N120°40′40″E / 60.37417°N 120.67778°E /60.37417; 120.67778 |
• elevation | 115 m (377 ft) |
| Length | 1,436 km (892 mi) |
| Basin size | 210,000 km2 (81,000 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 2,110 m3/s (75,000 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Lena→Laptev Sea |
TheOlyokma (Russian:Олёкма,Olyokma,IPA:[ɐˈlʲɵkmə];[1]Yakut:Өлүөхүмэ,Ölüöxüme[1]) is atributary of theLena in easternSiberia.
The river gives its name to theOlyokma-Chara Plateau, located to the west of its western bank.[2]
In the summer of 1631, Russian pioneerPyotr Beketov entered the Olyokma during his first voyage down theLena and in 1636 he founded the present-day city ofOlyokminsk near the mouth of the river on the left bank of Lena.[3]
Yerofey Khabarov used this river's route to travel from the Lena to theAmur during his mid-17th century expeditions. In the spring of 1649 Khabarov set off at his own expense up the Olyokma, then up its tributary, theTungir andportaged to theShilka River, reaching the upper Amur (Dauria) in early 1650.[1]
The river is 1,436 kilometres (892 mi) long, and has adrainage basin of 210,000 square kilometres (81,000 sq mi).[4] The Olyokma rises in theMuroy Range,Olyokma-Stanovik Highlands (Олёкминский Становик), west ofMogocha. It flows through remote terrain and cuts across theKalar Range of theStanovoy Highlands through a narrow valley. Further north, it bends around the eastern end of theUdokan Range and flows roughly north before joining the Lena nearOlyokminsk.[5]
To the west flows theVitim, to the south theShilka and Amur, and to the east the upperAldan. Its main tributaries are theTungir, theNyukzha and theChara —with its tributary theTokko.[3]
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Media related toOlyokma River at Wikimedia Commons| International | |
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