Mikhail Stadukhin

This tributary, the Yemolkon River can no longer be identified, but the name is probably a variant of Oymyakon, "the coldest place on earth".

The united group sailed east to the Kolyma River and built winter quarters, probably at Srednekolymsk.

Faced with short provisions, poor fishing, a rocky coast and ominous reports from the natives, he returned to the Kolyma.

Deciding that this was the real Pogycha, he set off and after a seven-week sled journey reached Semyon Dezhnyov's camp on the Anadyr in 1650.

After the thaw he built a boat, sailed west along the coast and wintered at the mouth of the Gizhiga River.

It is possible that he explored some part of western Kamchatka Peninsula and may have crossed the northern neck to a point where he could see the Pacific.

He is not to be confused with Taras, Garasim and Yakob Stadukhin, probably his two brothers and his son respectively, who were also in Siberia at this time.