[3][4] Yerofey Khabarov used this river's route to travel with his Cossacks from the Lena to the Amur during his mid-17th century expeditions.

In the spring of 1649 Khabarov set off at his own expense up the Olyokma, then up the Tungir and portaged to the Shilka, reaching the upper Amur (Dauria) in early 1650.

Its source is in Zabaykalsky Krai, in the northeastern slopes of the Tungir Range of the Olyokma-Stanovik Highlands.

[3][1] Further downstream, after the confluence with the Bugarikhta, the river flows into a narrow valley in a NNW direction and its speed increases, then after Gulya it slows down along a wide intermontane basin.

[2] The river freezes towards the end of October and stays under ice until late April or early May.