Northeast Siberia in the travel notes of official D.I. Melikov (late 19th century).

The main source for the article is the travel notes of the official of the regional administration of the Yakut region, D.I. Melikov, compiled during his review of the northern districts in 1893. The territorial framework covers the Northeast Siberia, part of the Arctic Circle. The relevance of this research is determined by the ongoing broad interest in the history of the Arctic regions of Russia. Personal sources represent a valuable and unique layer of historical information. Such interest contributes to a deep study of the region and expands the understanding of its historical and cultural heritage. Melikov's notes contain impressions of the nature of the northern region, characteristics of local officials, Cossacks, priests, and indigenous people, the occupations of the northern peoples, descriptions of the animal world, as well as ethnographic notes with simple drawings. Additionally, they include brief comments on official activities. The author writes about his conversations with representatives of the northern peoples. The analysis is based on the principles of the historical method, which involves a systematic and objective consideration of the data in the context of historical-genetic, comparative, and typological approaches, allowing the identification of key features and interconnections that are essential for a multifaceted understanding of the historical process of the studied region. The scientific novelty of the research is determined by the fact that some of the information presented in the examined source has not been the subject of detailed study and is introduced into scientific circulation for the first time. This source allows for the reconstruction of the past through the personal observation and impressions of an educated official, containing information that was not recorded in official documents, such as aspects of everyday life, relationships between people, and social issues. As part of the research, a comprehensive assessment of the information contained in the source was conducted to determine its significance for cultural, social, political, and economic aspects of studying the history of the Far North. The value of this historical source is confirmed by the materials contained within it and critical remarks about the everyday life of the peoples of the Far North.

study, expedition, source, Sakha Republic, Verkhoyansk District, Kolyma District, Gizhiga, peoples, ethnography, official