Olkhon has a dramatic combination of
terrain and is rich in archaeological landmarks. Steep mountains line its eastern shore, and at above sea level, Mount Zhima is the highest point on the island, peaking at above the water level of Lake Baikal. The island is large enough to have its own lakes, and features a combination of
taiga,
steppe and even a small
desert. A deep strait separates the island from the land. The island's appearance is a result of millions of years of
tectonic movement resulting in the hollowing of the channel between the land (
Maloe More Sound and
Olkhon Gate Strait) and the block of stone forming the island. The steep slopes of the mountains show the vertical heave of the earth.{{cite web in the background ==Population==