Olyokma

Olyokma
Yakut: Өлүөхүмэ
Olyokma; Yakut: Өлүөхүмэ
	View of the river
	Location in the Sakha Republic, Russia
Location
Country	Yakutia, Russia
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	,
• coordinates	53°44′42″N 117°20′16″E / 53.74500°N 117.33778°E
• elevation	1,500 m (4,900 ft)
Mouth
• location	Lena
• coordinates	60°22′27″N 120°40′40″E / 60.37417°N 120.67778°E
• 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

The Olyokma (Russian: Олёкма, Olyokma, IPA: [ɐˈlʲɵkmə];^[1] Yakut: Өлүөхүмэ, Ölüöxüme^[1]) is a tributary of the Lena in eastern Siberia.

History[]

In the summer of 1631, Russian pioneer Pyotr Beketov entered the Olyokma during his first voyage down the Lena and in 1636 he founded the present-day city of Olyokminsk near the mouth of the river on the left bank of Lena.^[2]

Yerofey Khabarov used this river's route to travel from the Lena to the Amur during his mid-17th century expeditions.^[1]

Course[]

The river is 1,436 kilometres (892 mi) long, and has a drainage basin of 210,000 square kilometres (81,000 sq mi).^[3] The Olyokma rises in the , (Олёкминский Становик), west of Mogocha. It flows north through remote terrain before joining the Lena near Olyokminsk.^[4]

To the west is the Vitim, to the south the Shilka and Amur, and to the east the upper Aldan. Its right tributary, the [Wikidata], leads to a portage to the Shilka. Other tributaries are the [Wikidata] and the Chara.^[2]