# Olkhon Island

> island in Lake Baikal in eastern Siberia

**Wikidata**: [Q756774](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q756774)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olkhon_Island)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/olkhon-island

## Summary
Olkhon Island is the largest island in Lake Baikal, located in eastern Siberia within Russia. It serves as a significant geographical feature completely surrounded by water, with historical ties to the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. The island is part of the Olkhonsky District in Irkutsk Oblast and features nearby landmarks like the Olkhon Gate strait.

## Key Facts
- Olkhon Island is classified as an island, defined as a piece of sub-continental land completely surrounded by water.
- It is located in Lake Baikal in eastern Siberia.
- Coordinates: latitude 53.15, longitude 107.4.
- Population figures: 1500.0, 1668.0, 1742.0.
- Sitelink count: 48.
- Wikipedia title: Olkhon Island.
- Wikidata description: island in Lake Baikal in eastern Siberia.
- Related to Olkhon Gate, a strait of Lake Baikal in Russia, with country associations to Russia, Irkutsk Oblast, and Soviet Union, and sitelink count of 6.
- Part of Olkhonsky District, a municipal district in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, established in 1935, with country links to Russia and Soviet Union, and sitelink count of 13.
- Located in Russia, a transcontinental sovereign state established on December 25, 1991, as a successor to the Soviet Union, with historical inceptions linked to Kievan Rus' circa 880, Grand Principality of Vladimir in 1125, and Grand Principality of Moscow in 1263 (preferred).
- Russia spans approximately 17,075,400 square kilometers as of 2014, with a population of about 146.1 million as of 2025.
- Russia's capital is Moscow since 1918, operating as a federal semi-presidential republic, often characterized as a super-presidential republic.
- Official language of Russia: Russian statewide, with regional languages including Tatar, Chechen, and Bashkir.
- Russia's currency: Russian ruble since 1992.
- Russia's head of state: Vladimir Putin since 2012; head of government: Mikhail Mishustin since 2020.
- Russia's legislature: Federal Assembly, comprising the Federation Council and State Duma.
- Russia is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and belongs to organizations like BRICS, G20, WTO, SCO, CIS, Interpol, and UNESCO.
- Russia borders 14 countries and shares maritime boundaries with Japan and the United States; highest point is Mount Elbrus at 5,642 meters.
- Russia spans 11 time zones from UTC+02:00 to UTC+12:00, with internet domains .ru, .su, .рф, calling code +7, and right-hand driving.
- Located in the Russian Empire, a former empire in Eurasia and North America from October 22, 1721, to September 1, 1917, founded by Peter the Great, succeeding the Tsardom of Russia.
- Russian Empire's area: 23,700,000 km² in 1865 (including Russian America), 21,800,251 km² in 1914.
- Russian Empire's population: 181,537,800 in 1916, 178,378,800 in 1914, 125,640,021 in 1897.
- Russian Empire's capitals: Saint Petersburg (1721–1728, 1730–1917), Moscow (1728–1730).
- Russian Empire's government: absolute monarchy from 1721–1905, constitutional/dual monarchy from 1905–1917.
- Russian Empire's official language: Russian, with Polish in Congress Poland, Finnish and Swedish in Grand Duchy of Finland.
- Russian Empire's anthems: "The Prayer of Russians" (1816–1833), "God Save the Tsar!" (1833–1917).
- Russian Empire's currency: gold rouble, ruble; official religion: Russian Orthodox Church (Eastern Orthodoxy).
- Located in the Soviet Union, a former country in Eurasia from December 30, 1922, to 1991, with sitelink count of 274.
- Olkhonsky District inception: 1935.

## FAQs
**Where is Olkhon Island located and what are its geographical coordinates?**
Olkhon Island sits in Lake Baikal in eastern Siberia, fully encompassed by water as a sub-continental landmass. Its precise position is at latitude 53.15 and longitude 107.4, placing it within the broader territory of Russia.

**What population data is available for Olkhon Island?**
Recorded population numbers for the island include 1500.0, 1668.0, and 1742.0, reflecting varying counts over time. These figures highlight its small but inhabited status amid the vast Siberian landscape.

**How is Olkhon Island connected to nearby geographical and administrative features?**
The island relates to the Olkhon Gate, a strait in Lake Baikal associated with Russia, Irkutsk Oblast, and the former Soviet Union, noted for 6 sitelinks. Administratively, it falls under the Olkhonsky District in Irkutsk Oblast, which began in 1935 and links to both Russia and the Soviet Union, with 13 sitelinks.

**What historical states has Olkhon Island been part of?**
Olkhon Island was incorporated into the Russian Empire, which existed from 1721 to 1917 across Eurasia and North America, and later the Soviet Union from 1922 to 1991. Following the Soviet dissolution, it became part of modern Russia, established in 1991.

**What are the key details about Russia's government and international role, given Olkhon Island's location there?**
Russia functions as a federal semi-presidential republic with executive power shared between President Vladimir Putin (since 2012) and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin (since 2020), alongside a bicameral Federal Assembly. As a permanent UN Security Council member, it engages in groups like BRICS, G20, and SCO, influencing global affairs from its transcontinental position.

**How did the Russian Empire's vast territory and demographics relate to regions like Olkhon Island?**
The empire covered up to 23,700,000 km² in 1865, including areas in Eurasia where Olkhon Island is situated, with populations reaching 181,537,800 by 1916. It operated under absolute monarchy until 1905, then shifted to constitutional rule, encompassing diverse regions with Russian as the main language and Eastern Orthodoxy as the state religion.

**What economic and infrastructural aspects of Russia affect places like Olkhon Island?**
Russia's economy, with a 2022 nominal GDP of $2.24 trillion and the ruble as currency, supports infrastructure including right-hand driving and a 220V/50Hz mains voltage. Digital elements like Yandex Data Factory and portals such as Mos.ru enhance connectivity, potentially benefiting remote areas in Siberia.

**What cultural and symbolic elements from the Russian Empire persist in modern Russia, relevant to Olkhon Island's heritage?**
The empire used anthems like "God Save the Tsar!" and flags evolving from white-blue-red to black-orange-white designs, with a two-headed eagle coat of arms. These symbols, tied to a lineage of monarchs from Peter the Great to Nicholas II, form part of the cultural backdrop for Siberian sites.

## Why It Matters
Olkhon Island holds importance as a key natural and cultural landmark in Lake Baikal, contributing to biodiversity and tourism in eastern Siberia while embodying Russia's expansive geographical and historical narrative. Its placement within Russia's vast territory underscores the nation's role in global ecology and geopolitics, as the island's isolation highlights challenges in remote infrastructure development amid Russia's influence on energy markets and international security. By linking to historical entities like the Russian Empire and Soviet Union, it illustrates shifts in political boundaries and administrative divisions, offering insights into how such changes affect local populations and environments; this relevance extends to understanding transcontinental dynamics, from the empire's colonial expansions to modern Russia's diplomatic tensions, making the island a microcosm of broader Eurasian heritage and contemporary global relations.

## Notable For
- Being the largest island in Lake Baikal, distinguished by its complete encirclement by water in eastern Siberia.
- Historical integration into the Russian Empire, which was the world's largest country in 1865 at 23.7 million square kilometers, spanning three continents.
- Association with the Soviet Union, a major 20th-century power that shaped global politics until 1991.
- Proximity to the Olkhon Gate strait, a unique waterway in Lake Baikal with ties to multiple historical countries.
- Inclusion in the Olkhonsky District, established in 1935, reflecting Soviet-era administrative reforms.
- Coordinates at 53.15°N, 107.4°E, positioning it centrally in one of the world's deepest lakes.
- Population variations from 1500 to 1742, indicating a small but persistent human presence in a remote setting.
- High sitelink count of 48, signifying substantial online and encyclopedic references compared to related entities like Olkhon Gate (6) and Olkhonsky District (13).
- Ties to Russia's 11 time zones and transcontinental span, emphasizing its role in bridging Europe and Asia.
- Connection to the Russian Empire's succession of 14 monarchs and participation in major wars, setting it apart from non-imperial islands.

## Body

### Geographical Features and Location
Olkhon Island is a piece of sub-continental land entirely surrounded by water, situated in Lake Baikal in eastern Siberia. Its coordinates are latitude 53.15 and longitude 107.4. The island relates to the Olkhon Gate, a strait in Lake Baikal associated with Russia, Irkutsk Oblast, and the Soviet Union, featuring a sitelink count of 6.

Population data for Olkhon Island includes figures of 1500.0, 1668.0, and 1742.0. It has a sitelink count of 48 and a Wikipedia title of Olkhon Island, with a Wikidata description as an island in Lake Baikal in eastern Siberia.

### Administrative and Regional Connections
Olkhon Island is part of the Olkhonsky District, a municipal district in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia. The district was established in 1935 and connects to countries Russia and the Soviet Union, with a sitelink count of 13.

### Historical Context in the Russian Empire
Olkhon Island was located within the Russian Empire, a former empire in Eurasia and North America that existed from October 22, 1721, to September 1, 1917. The empire was founded by Peter the Great and succeeded the Tsardom of Russia, Talysh Khanate, Principality of Abkhazia, Shahrisabz beylik, and Kingdom of Imereti. It was dissolved due to the abolition of the monarchy, February Revolution, and October Revolution, and succeeded by the Russian Republic.

The Russian Empire's capitals were Saint Petersburg from 1721 to 1728 and 1730 to 1917, and Moscow from 1728 to 1730. Its area reached 23,700,000 km² in 1865 including Russian America, 22,800,000 km² from 1895 to 1905, and 21,800,251 km² in 1914. Population statistics show 125,640,021 in 1897, 178,378,800 in 1914, and 181,537,800 in 1916.

The empire's anthems were "The Prayer of Russians" from 1816 to 1833 and "God Save the Tsar!" from 1833 to 1917. Official language was Russian, with Polish in Congress Poland, and Finnish and Swedish in the Grand Duchy of Finland. Government was absolute monarchy from 1721 to 1905, then constitutional/dual monarchy until 1917. Head of state title was Emperor of all the Russias. Currency included gold rouble and ruble. Official religion was the Russian Orthodox Church, Eastern Orthodoxy.

The empire spanned Eurasia and North America until 1867, with Russian America from circa 1730 to March 30, 1867. It bordered the German Empire from 1871, United States from 1784, Qing dynasty until 1912, Empire of Japan, Austria-Hungary from 1867, Austrian Empire until 1867, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until 1795, and British Empire. Coordinates were approximately 58.65°N, 70.1167°E. Most populous urban area was Saint Petersburg from 1800 to 1917.

Flags evolved: white-blue-red from 1721 to 1858, black-orange-white from 1858 to 1896, and white-blue-red from 1896 to 1917. Coat of arms included greater and lesser versions with a two-headed eagle. Demonyms included Russian, ruski, orosz, ruso/rusa, russe, російський/російська, ruský/ruská/ruské. Native label was Россійская Имперія, official name Российская империя.

The empire participated in the French invasion of Russia, Third Silesian War, Crimean War, Russo-Japanese War, World War I, Treaty of Gulistan, Treaty of Saint Petersburg, First Serbian-Ottoman War, and Russian conquest of Bukhara. It was a member of the Holy Alliance and had diplomatic relations with the United States and Empire of Japan.

Monarchs included Peter the Great (1721–1725), Catherine I (1725–1727), Peter II (1727–1730), Anna I (1730–1740), Ivan VI (1740–1741), Elizabeth I (1741–1761), Peter III (1761–1762), Catherine II (1762–1796), Paul I (1796–1801), Alexander I (1801–1825), Nicholas I (1825–1855), Alexander II (1855–1881), Alexander III (1881–1894), and Nicholas II (1894–1917). Heads of government included Nikolay Rumyantsev (1810–1812) and Ivan Shcheglovitov (1917).

External references include Encyclopædia Britannica 11th edition, Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, Nordisk familjebok, Jewish Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron, Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia, Great Russian Encyclopedia, Library of Congress Authority ID n80001203, Bibliothèque nationale de France ID 119405184, VIAF ID 247149066396265601002, and GND ID 1086796756.

### Context in the Soviet Union
Olkhon Island was part of the Soviet Union, a former country in Eurasia established on December 30, 1922, and dissolved in 1991. It has a sitelink count of 274 and is classified as a place.

### Modern Placement in Russia
Olkhon Island is located in Russia, a country in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia established on December 25, 1991, due to the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Historical inceptions include Kievan Rus' circa 880, Grand Principality of Vladimir in 1125, and Grand Principality of Moscow in 1263 (preferred). It is a federal semi-presidential republic, super-presidential republic, with capital Moscow since 1918.

Russia's area is 17,075,400 square kilometers as of 2014. Population is approximately 146,119,928 as of 2025, with fluctuations peaking around 148 million in the early 1990s. Ethnic groups include Russians at 77.7%, Tatars at 3.7%, Ukrainians at 1.4%, and others like Chuvash and Chechens. Official language is Russian, with regional languages such as Tatar, Chechen, and Bashkir.

Birth rate is 8.9 per 1,000 in 2022, death rate 12.9, life expectancy about 73 years, HDI 0.822 in 2021. Predominantly urban, with major centers Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

Economy has nominal GDP of $2.24 trillion in 2022, currency Russian ruble since 1992, VAT rate 20%. Sectors include automotive, technology, retail. Digital entities: Yandex Data Factory, Carprice, Rabota.ru (launched 1998), tutu.ru, Mos.ru (launched 1996), FamilySpace, Spaces.

Infrastructure: right-hand driving, right-hand railway traffic, 220V at 50Hz mains voltage. Internet domains .ru, .su, .рф; calling code +7; mobile code 250; emergency 112, fire 101, police 102, medical 103.

Geography: transcontinental, borders 14 countries including Norway, China, Ukraine; maritime with Japan, United States. Highest point Mount Elbrus 5,642m, lowest Caspian Sea -28m. Geographical center 66.416°N, 94.25°E near Lake Vivi. Borders Baltic Sea, Arctic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Sea of Azov, Bering Sea, Sea of Okhotsk. Westernmost Vistula Spit, easternmost Big Diomede Island, northernmost Cape Fligely, southernmost Main Caucasus Range.

Government: constitution adopted December 12, 1993. President Vladimir Putin since 2012, heads of state history includes Boris Yeltsin, Dmitry Medvedev. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin since 2020, prior heads Viktor Chernomyrdin, Sergei Stepashin. Legislature Federal Assembly with State Duma and Federation Council. Judiciary Constitutional Court and Supreme Court.

Administrative divisions: 22 republics (e.g., Adygea, Bashkortostan, Tatarstan), 9 krais (e.g., Altai Krai, Krasnodar Krai), 46 oblasts (e.g., Moscow Oblast, Leningrad Oblast), 3 federal cities (Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Sevastopol), 1 autonomous oblast (Jewish Autonomous Oblast), 4 autonomous okrugs (e.g., Chukotka Autonomous Okrug).

International relations: diplomatic ties with United States, China, Germany, India, Japan. Member of UN (permanent Security Council), G20, BRICS, SCO, CIS, WTO. Designated terrorist state by Ukraine, European Parliament, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Czech Republic, NATO, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia. Involved in Russo-Ukrainian War, annexation of Crimea.

Culture: anthem "State Anthem of the Russian Federation," flag tricolor adopted December 11, 1993, coat of arms two-headed eagle. Media: Rossiyskaya Gazeta, CNews, REGNUM News Agency, Great Russian Encyclopedia, Samara Tatars Magazine, Vzglyad. Holidays: Russia Day June 12, Unity Day November 4, Victory Day May 9, Defender of the Fatherland Day, International Women's Day, New Year's Day. Over 30 official or regional languages.

## References

1. GEOnet Names Server. 2018
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. GeoNames