On Monday, the torch relay traveled approximately 115 miles west from Khabarovskto the city ofBirobidzhan. The city is considered the administrative center of theJewish Autonomous Region.
A line-up of over 30 torchbearers ran with the flame inBirobidzhan.The city's name is derived from its location between two rivers: Bira and Bidzhan. Sochi 2014 says more than 10,000 spectators in Birobidzhangathered to welcome the flame as it arrived by train on the Trans-Siberian railway.
The flame will tour two cities in the Amur region on Tuesday:Belogorsk andBlagoveshchensk.
Belogorsk had its own delegate at the 2008BeijingOlympics; Svetlana Klyuka placed fourth in the 800-meter run.
Sochi 2014 predicts 15 torchbearers will participate in this stage of the relay.
Blagoveshchensk borders China, and lies at the intersection of the Amur and Zeya rivers.In the 1940s, a dinosaur graveyard was discovered under Blagoveshchensk. According to Sochi 2014, the remains of the ancient reptiles are still there now.More than 70 torchbearers will carry the flame throughBlagoveshchensk.
Overall, 14,000 runners will carry the torch across a total distance of 38,525 miles.The flame is touring 83 towns and cities before heading back into European Russia, and ultimately Sochi, for the 2014 Winter Olympics opening ceremony on February 7.
Written byNicole Bennett
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