[2] Between 1855 and 1858 Ivan Kryzhin (d. 1884) took part in the Eastern Siberian expedition led by Russian astronomer and traveler Ludwig Schwarz.

In 1857 he mapped the Kirenga River and, while exploring its right tributary, the Cherepanikha, Kryzhin discovered the formerly unknown Akitkan Range rising above the area of its source.

[4] Overcoming numerous difficulties, Preobrazhensky managed to map for the first time a 175 kilometers (109 mi) stretch of the Akitkan Range.

It is limited by the Cis-Baikal Depression (предбайкальская впадина) to the west, the Lena to the north and the Chaya river valley to the east.

The highest summit is a 2,067 metres (6,781 ft) high unnamed peak located at the southern end, west of the Ungdar Range.