Sakha Republic

federal subject of Russia, republic of Russia

Olonkho (, ; ; ) is a series of Yakut and Dolgan heroic epics. The term Olonkho is used to refer to the entire Yakut epic tradition as well as individual epic poems. An ancient oral tradition, it is thought that many of the poems predate the northwards migration of Yakuts in the 14th century, making Olonkho among the oldest epic arts of any Turkic peoples. There are over one hundred recorded Olonkhos, varying in length from a few thousand to tens of thousands of verses, with the most well-known poem Nyurgun Bootur the Swift containing over 36,000 verses.

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Russian diamond mine

national anthem

cattle breed

The Abaasy (Abaahy or Abasy, , Abaası [abaːsɯ]; Dolgan: Абааһы, Abaahı; , Abaasi; , Abasy; cognate of the Turkic word Abası; also Chebeldei) are demons in the mythology of the Sakha (also known as the Yakuts). Yakut shamanism divides the universe into upper and lower layers, with the earth being "a kind of indeterminate space or matter" in between. The abaasy occupy the lower level, referred to as the underworld or "kingdom of darkness."

Yhyаkh (, ) is the festival that celebrates the rebirth of nature after a hard winter, the triumph of life, the beginning of a new year in the Sakha Republic. Historic celebration is observed on the 21st June, the day of the summer solstice.

1921–23 revolt during the Russian Civil War

spate of forest fires in Russia

official symbol of the Sakha Republic

Aiy (Sakha: Айыы, Ayıı) are benevolent spirits in Yakut mythology. They are creators of the world and of the fabulous land of the Yakut Olonkhos. In Sakha belief Urung Ai Toyon, creator of the world, is the greatest of them. According to mythology, the Aiy live in the Upper World. It is believed that the Aiy will not accept blood sacrifice and therefore they are presented "victims" of vegetable and dairy products.

bridge over the Lena River