The Olyokma-Chara Plateau (Russian: Олёкмо-Чарское плоскогорье; Yakut: Өлүөхүмэ-Чаара хаптал хайалаах сир) is a mountainous area in the Sakha Republic and Irkutsk Oblast, Far Eastern Federal District, Russia.[2] A small section is in Kalarsky District, northernmost Zabaykalsky Krai.[3]
| Olyokma-Chara Plateau | |
|---|---|
| Олёкмо-Чарское плоскогорье / Өлүөхүмэ-Чаара хаптал хайалаах сир | |
 Murun Massif map section, Olyokma-Chara Plateau | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Murun |
| Elevation | 1,452 m (4,764 ft) |
| Coordinates | 58°22′32″N 118°55′30″E / 58.37556°N 118.92500°E |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 200 km (120 mi) |
| Width | 180 km (110 mi) |
| Geography | |
  Olyokma-Chara Plateau Location in the Sakha Republic, Russia | |
| Country | Russia |
| Federal subject | Sakha Republic, Irkutsk Oblast |
| Range coordinates | 58°30′N 120°0′E / 58.500°N 120.000°E |
| Parent range | South Siberian System |
| Geology | |
| Rock age(s) | Paleozoic, Precambrian[1] |
| Rock type(s) | Limestone, metamorphic shale and Granite intrusions |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | from Chara |
Charoite, a rare mineral, is found in the Murun Massif area of the plateau, rising between rivers Chara and Tokko.[4]
Geography
editThe Olyokma-Chara Plateau is located to the south of the Lena, at the southwestern end of the Sakha Republic in Olyokminsky District, and the eastern end of Irkutsk Oblast, Bodaybinsky District. The plateau is bound by the Chara River, a left tributary of the Olyokma river to the west and the Olyokma, a left tributary of the Lena, to the east. The Tokko River, the largest tributary of the Chara, crosses the uplands from south to north. To the south rises the Udokan Range of the Stanovoy Highlands and to the north the Lena Plateau. To the east rise the Aldan Highlands and to the west the Patom Highlands. The size of the plateau is roughly 180 kilometres (110 mi) from north to south, and 200 kilometres (120 mi) from east to west.[5] There are vestiges of ancient glaciation throughout the plateau area.[6]
The heights of the Olyokma-Chara Plateau are moderate, the average elevations are between 500 meters (1,600 ft) and 600 meters (2,000 ft), although higher in the southern fringes. Mountains tend to be flat-topped, the highest point is Murun, a 1,452 metres (4,764 ft) high summit.[5][7]
The plateau is largely uninhabited. The settlement of Torgo, Olyokminsky District, was abandoned in 2010.
Geology
editPart of the Olyokma-Chara Plateau falls within the Aldan Shield geological region. The plateau is composed of the Lower Paleozoic limestones in its northern part, and in the southern by Precambrian metamorphic shales, with granite intrusions.[7]
Flora
editThe mountains of the highlands are covered by larch taiga in the lower and middle slopes. Siberian pine scrub and mountain tundra grow at higher altitudes.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Smelov, A. P.; Timofeev, V. F. (2005). "The tectonics and metallogeny of the Precambrian of the Aldan-Stanovoy Shield". Mineral Deposit Research: Meeting the Global Challenge. pp. 53–56. doi:10.1007/3-540-27946-6_14. ISBN 978-3-540-27945-7.
- ^ Google Earth
- ^ Олёкмо-Чарское нагорье, Small Encyclopedia of Transbaikalia
- ^ Vladykin, N. V. Matveyeva, L. H., Bogacheva, H. G., and Alekseyev, Y. A. (1983) Novyye danyye o charoite i charoitivykh porodakh. (Recent findings on charoite and charoitic rocks). In Mineralogiya i Genezis Tsvetnikh Kamnei Vostochnoi Sibiri (Mineralogy and Genesis of Gem Stones of Eastern Siberia), 41-56. Siberian Division Akad. Nauk. SSSR, Novosibirsk.
- ^ a b URSS 1,000,000 scale Operational Navigation Chart; Sheet D-7
- ^ Физическая география СССР - Ландшафтные области гор Южной Сибири - Байкальско-Становая область
- ^ a b c Олёкмо-Чарское плоскогорье / Great Russian Encyclopedia; in 35 vol.] / Ch. ed. Yu.S. Osipov, Great Russian Encyclopedia, 2004—2017.
