Famous geographers and travelers. Famous geographers and travelers - bibliography

travelers

in the paintings of artists N. Solomin and S. Yakovlev

Russian travelers have written brilliant pages in the history of geographical discoveries. They not only studied the vast expanses of the Motherland, but also made discoveries and research far beyond its borders.

Semyon Ivanovich Dezhnev (born about 1605 - died in 1672/3) is a famous explorer and sailor. He served in Tobolsk, Yeniseisk, Yakutsk; went on long and dangerous trips to the rivers Yana, Indigirka, Oymyakon. Departing in 1648 from the Nizhne-Kolyma prison, Dezhnev sailed from the Arctic Ocean to the Pacific and practically proved by this the existence of the strait separating Asia from America.

Faddey Faddeevich Bellingshausen (1779-1862) - a famous navigator, a prominent scientist. Participated in the expedition of Kruzenshtern and Lisyaneky, then commanded together with MP Lazarev in 1819-1821 the sloops "Vostok" and "Mirny". This expedition to the South Pole made a great geographical discovery - it reached the shores of Antarctica, and also conducted extensive research in the equatorial and tropical zones. The Pacific and made improvements to the nautical charts.

Peter Petrovich Semenov-Tyan-Shansky (1827-1914) - a remarkable Russian geographer and traveler. The first Europeans to penetrate into the hard-to-reach areas of the Central Tien Shan and found that the Chu River does not flow into Lake Issyk-Kul, opened the sources of the Naryn and Sarydzhaz rivers, the second highest Tien Shan peak - Khan Tengri, huge glaciers covering its slopes.

Pyotr Kuzmich Kozlov (1863-1936) - a remarkable Russian traveler, explorer of Central Asia. Taking part in the expeditions of N. M. Przhevalsky, M. V. Pevtsov and V. I. Roborovsky, he repeatedly crossed Mongolia and China. From 1899 to 1926, Kozlov led three expeditions to Central Asia. He studied the mountains of the Mongolian Altai, penetrated into the least explored areas of the Tibetan plateau; in the center of the Mongolian deserts opened ancient city Hara-Khoto; excavated the Khentei-Noinuli burial mounds, enriching science with versatile information about the regions of Central Asia.

Nikolai Nikolaevich Miklukho-Maclay (1846 - 1888) - famous Russian traveler and scientist, anthropologist and ethnographer. He spent twelve years in New Guinea, Malacca, Australia and the Pacific Islands, studying the peoples inhabiting them. The creator of modern anthropology, Miklouho-Maclay was a passionate fighter against racial discrimination and colonial oppression.

Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky (1839-1888) - the great Russian traveler and geographer. After the first expedition to the Ussuri region (1867-1869), he became famous as a talented explorer of distant and little-known lands. He conducted four expeditions to Central Asia, during which he crossed vast expanses from the Sayan Mountains to Tibet and from the Tien Shan to Khingan.

Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev (1788-1851) - famous navigator, naval commander and scientist-researcher. Together with F. Sh. Bellingshausen he commanded a remarkable naval expedition that discovered Antarctica. Even before that, he walked around the world on the Suvorov ship, and after sailing to Antarctica, he made for the third time trip around the world, commanding the frigate "Cruiser". The last seventeen years of his life he devoted to the education of Russian sailors and the construction of the Black Sea fleet.

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Ivan Fedorovich Kruzenshtern (1770-1846) - a remarkable navigator and scientist-researcher. He commanded the first Russian round-the-world expedition from 1803 to 1806. The expedition refined the map of the Pacific Ocean, collected information about the nature and inhabitants of Sakhalin, the islands of the Pacific Ocean and Kamchatka. Kruzenshtern published a description of his trip and compiled a two-volume atlas of the Pacific Ocean.

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Georgy Yakovlevich Sedov (1877-1914) - a brave navigator, explorer of the Arctic. In 1912 he came up with a project for a trip to the North Pole. Having reached the St. Foka "Franz Josef Land, Sedov made a bold attempt to reach the North Pole on dog sleds, but died on the way to the cherished goal.

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Gennady Ivanovich Nevelskoy (1813-1876) - an outstanding explorer of the Far East. He spent about six years in the Amur region, studying its nature. In 1849, Nevelskoy, while sailing along Sea of ​​Okhotsk proved that Sakhalin is an island separated from the mainland by the navigable Tatar Strait.

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Vladimir Afanasyevich Obruchev (1863-1956) - a remarkable traveler, a prominent Soviet geologist and geographer. After research in Central Asia(1886) and numerous expeditions across Eastern Siberia, in 1892 the scientist went to Mongolia and China for two years, having covered more than thirteen and a half thousand kilometers during this time. Obruchev headed major geological research in Siberia.

Russian navigators, along with European ones, are the most famous pioneers who discovered new continents, sections of mountain ranges and vast water areas. They became the discoverers of significant geographic objects, took the first steps in the development of hard-to-reach territories, and traveled around the world. So who are they - the conquerors of the seas, and what exactly did the world learn about thanks to them?

Afanasy Nikitin - the very first Russian traveler

Afanasy Nikitin is rightfully considered the first Russian traveler who managed to visit India and Persia (1468-1474, according to other sources 1466-1472). On the way back, he visited Somalia, Turkey, Muscat. On the basis of his travels, Afanasy compiled the notes "Voyage across the Three Seas", which became popular and unique historical and literary textbooks. These records became the first book in the history of Russia, made not in the format of a story about a pilgrimage, but describing the political, economic and cultural characteristics of the territories.

He was able to prove that even as a member of a poor peasant family, one can become a famous explorer and traveler. Streets, embankments in several Russian cities, a motor ship, passenger train and the airport.

Semyon Dezhnev, who founded the Anadyr prison

Cossack chieftain Semyon Dezhnev was an Arctic navigator who became the discoverer of a number of geographical objects. Wherever Semyon Ivanovich served, everywhere he strove to study new and previously unknown. He was even able to cross the East Siberian Sea on a makeshift koch, going from Indigirka to Alazeya.

In 1643, as part of a detachment of researchers, Semyon Ivanovich discovered Kolyma, where, with his associates, he founded the city of Srednekolymsk. A year later, Semyon Dezhnev continued his expedition, walked along the Bering Strait (which did not yet have this name) and discovered the most east point mainland, later called Cape Dezhnev. Also, an island, a peninsula, a bay, a village are named after him.

In 1648 Dezhnev hit the road again. His ship was wrecked in the waters located in the southern part of the Anadyr River. Having reached on skis, the sailors went up the river and stayed there for the winter. Subsequently, this place appeared on geographical maps and received the name Anadyr prison. As a result of the expedition, the traveler was able to make detailed descriptions, make a map of those places.

Vitus Ionassen Bering, who organized expeditions to Kamchatka

Two Kamchatka expeditions inscribed the names of Vitus Bering and his associate Alexei Chirikov in the history of sea discoveries. During the first voyage, the mariners conducted research and were able to supplement the geographic atlas with objects located in Northeast Asia and on the Pacific coast of Kamchatka.

The discovery of the Kamchatka and Ozerny peninsulas, the bays of Kamchatsky, Krest, Karaginsky, the Providence Bay, the St. Lawrence Island is also the merit of Bering and Chirikov. At the same time, another strait was found and described, which later became known as the Bering Strait.

The second expedition was undertaken by them in order to find a way to North America and exploring the Pacific Islands. On this journey, Bering and Chirikov founded the Peter and Paul prison. It got its name from the combined names of their ships ("St. Peter" and "St. Paul) and later became the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

On the approach to the shores of America, the ships of like-minded people lost sight of each other, a heavy fog affected. "St. Peter", piloted by Bering, sailed to west coast America, but got into a violent storm on the way back - the ship was thrown onto the island. The last minutes of Vitus Bering's life passed on it, and the island subsequently began to bear his name. Chirikov also reached America on his ship, but successfully completed his voyage, having discovered several islands of the Aleutian ridge on the way back.

Khariton and Dmitry Laptev and their "named" sea

Cousins ​​Khariton and Dmitry Laptev were Vitus Bering's associates and assistants. It was he who appointed Dmitry the commander of the ship "Irkutsk", and his double-boat "Yakutsk" was led by Khariton. They took part in the Great Northern Expedition, the purpose of which was to study and accurately describe and map the Russian shores of the ocean, from the Yugorsky sphere to Kamchatka.

Each of the brothers made a significant contribution to the development of new territories. Dmitry became the first navigator who made a survey of the shores from the mouth of the Lena to the mouth of the Kolyma. He made detailed maps of these places, based on mathematical calculations and astronomical data.

Khariton Laptev and his associates conducted research on the northernmost part of the Siberian coast. It was he who determined the size and outlines of the huge Taimyr Peninsula - he completed a survey of its eastern coast, was able to identify the exact coordinates of the coastal islands. The expedition took place in difficult conditions - a large amount of ice, snowstorms, scurvy, ice captivity - Khariton Laptev's team had to endure a lot. But they continued their work. On this expedition, Laptev's assistant Chelyuskin discovered the cape, which was later named in his honor.

Noting the great contribution of the Laptevs to the development of new territories, members of the Russian Geographical Society decided to name one of the largest seas Arctic. The strait between the mainland and the island of Bolshoi Lyakhovsky is also named in honor of Dmitry, and the western coast of Taimyr Island bears the name of Khariton.

Kruzenshtern and Lisyansky - organizers of the first Russian circumnavigation

Ivan Kruzenshtern and Yuri Lisyansky are the first Russian navigators to circumnavigate the world. Their expedition lasted three years (started in 1803 and ended in 1806). They set off with their crews on two ships, which bore the names "Nadezhda" and "Neva". Travelers passed through Atlantic Ocean entered the waters of the Pacific Ocean. The sailors sailed along them to Kuril Islands, Kamchatka and Sakhalin.

This journey made it possible to collect important information... Based on the data obtained by seafarers, detailed map The Pacific Ocean. Another important result of the first Russian round the world expedition became the data obtained on the flora and fauna of the Kuriles and Kamchatka, local residents, their customs and cultural traditions.

During their voyage, the sailors crossed the equator and, according to maritime traditions, could not leave this event without a well-known ritual - a sailor disguised as Neptune greeted Kruzenshtern and asked why his ship had arrived where the Russian flag had never been. To which he received the answer that they were here exclusively for the glory and development of national science.

Vasily Golovnin - the first navigator who was rescued from Japanese captivity

Russian navigator Vasily Golovnin led two expeditions around the world. In 1806, while in the rank of lieutenant, he received a new appointment and became the commander of the sloop "Diana". Interestingly, this is the only case in the history of the Russian fleet when a lieutenant was entrusted with the control of the ship.

The leadership set the goal of a round-the-world expedition to study the North Pacific Ocean, with special attention to that part of it, which is located within the borders of the native country. Diana's path was not easy. The sloop passed the island of Tristan da Cunha, passed the Cape of Hope and entered a port belonging to the British. Here the ship was detained by the authorities. The British informed Golovnin about the beginning of the war between the two countries. The Russian ship was not declared captured, but the team was not allowed to leave the bay either. After spending more than a year in this position, in mid-May 1809 "Diana", led by Golovnin, tried to escape, which the sailors successfully managed - the ship arrived in Kamchatka.

The next important task Golovnin received in 1811 - he was supposed to compose descriptions of the Shantar and Kuril Islands, the shores of the Tatar Strait. During his travels, he was accused of violating sakoku principles and captured by the Japanese for more than 2 years. It was possible to rescue the team from captivity only thanks to the good relations between one of the Russian naval officers and an influential Japanese merchant, who was able to convince his government of the harmless intentions of the Russians. It is worth noting that before that, no one in history had returned from Japanese captivity.

In 1817-1819 Vasily Mikhailovich made another round-the-world voyage on the ship "Kamchatka" specially built for this.

Thaddeus Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev - discoverers of Antarctica

Captain Second Rank Thaddeus Bellingshausen was determined to find the truth in the question of the existence of the sixth continent. In 1819 he went out to sea, carefully preparing two sloops - "Mirny" and "Vostok". The latter was commanded by his associate Mikhail Lazarev. The first Antarctic round-the-world expedition set itself other tasks. In addition to finding irrefutable facts confirming or refuting the existence of Antarctica, the travelers were going to explore the waters of three oceans - the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian.

The results of this expedition exceeded all expectations. For 751 days, which it lasted, Bellingshausen and Lazarev were able to make several significant geographical discoveries. Of course, the most important of them is the existence of Antarctica, this historical event happened on January 28, 1820. Also, during the trip, about two dozen islands were found and mapped, sketches with views of Antarctica, images of representatives of the Antarctic fauna were created.

It is interesting that attempts to discover Antarctica were made more than once, but none of them was crowned with success. European sailors believed that either it is not there, or it is located in places that simply cannot be reached by sea. But Russian travelers had enough perseverance and determination, so the names of Bellingshausen and Lazarev are included in the lists greatest sailors the world.

There are modern travelers... One of them .

They are always attracted by the horizon line, an endless strip stretching into the distance. Their faithful friends are the ribbons of the roads leading to the unknown, mysterious and mysterious. They were the first to push the boundaries, opening up new lands for mankind and amazing beauty metrics. These people are the most famous travelers.

Travelers who made the most important discoveries

Christopher Columbus. He was a red-haired guy with a strong build and slightly above average height. From childhood he was smart, practical, very proud. He had a dream - to go on a journey and find a treasure of gold coins. And he made his dreams come true. He found a treasure - a huge mainland - America.

Columbus spent three quarters of his life sailing. He traveled on Portuguese ships, managed to live in Lisbon and the British Isles. Stopping briefly in a foreign land, he constantly drew geographic Maps, made new travel plans.

It still remains a mystery how he managed to draw up a plan himself short way from Europe to India. His calculations were based on the discoveries of the 15th century and on the fact that the Earth is in the shape of a ball.

Gathering 90 people of volunteers in 1492-1493, on three ships, he set off on a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. He became the discoverer of the central part of the Bahamas, the Greater and Lesser Antilles. He is responsible for the discovery of the northeastern coast of Cuba.

The second expedition, which lasted from 1493 to 1496, already consisted of 17 ships and 2.5 thousand people. He discovered the islands of Dominica, Small Antilles, Puerto Rico island. After 40 days of sailing, arriving in Castile, he notified the government of the opening of a new route to Asia.

After 3 years, having collected 6 ships, he led an expedition across the Atlantic. In Haiti, because of the denunciation of an envious person about his successes, Columbus was arrested and shackled. He was released, but he kept the fetters all his life, as a symbol of betrayal.

He was the discoverer of America. Until the end of his life, he mistakenly believed that it was connected with Asia by a thin isthmus. He believed that the sea route to India was opened by him, although history later showed the fallacy of his delusions.

Vasco da Gama. He was lucky to live in the era of the great geographical discoveries. Perhaps that is why he dreamed of travel and dreamed of becoming the discoverer of uncharted lands.

He was a nobleman. The family was not the most noble, but it had ancient roots. As a young man, he became interested in mathematics, navigation and astronomy. Since childhood, he hated secular society, playing the piano and French, which noble nobles tried to "show off".

Decisiveness and organizational skills made Vasco da Gama close to Emperor Charles VIII, who, having decided to create an expedition to open a sea route to India, appointed him as chief.

At his disposal were given 4 new ships specially built for the trip. Vasco da Gama was equipped with the latest navigation instruments and naval artillery.

A year later, the expedition reached the shores of India, stopping in the first city of Calicut (Kozhikode). Despite the cold meeting of the natives and even military clashes, the goal was achieved. Vasco da Gama pioneered the sea route to India.

They discovered the mountainous and desert regions of Asia, made bold expeditions to the Far North, they "wrote" history, glorifying the Russian land.

Great Russian travelers

Miklouho-Maclay was born into a noble family, but experienced poverty at the age of 11 when his father died. He has always been a rebel. At the age of 15, he was arrested for participating in a student demonstration and imprisoned for three days in Peter and Paul Fortress... For participation in student unrest, he was expelled from the gymnasium with a further ban on admission to any higher institution. Having left for Germany, he was educated there.

The famous naturalist Ernst Haeckel became interested in the 19-year-old boy, inviting him to his expedition to study the marine fauna.

In 1869, returning to St. Petersburg, he enlisted the support of the Russian Geographical Society, went to study New Guinea... It took a year to prepare the expedition. He sailed to the shores of the Coral Sea, and having set foot on the ground did not even know that the descendants of this place would call him by his name.

After living for over a year in New Guinea, he not only discovered new lands, but also taught the natives to grow corn, pumpkin, beans and fruit trees. He studied the life of the natives on the island of Java, Louisiades and Solomon Islands... He spent 3 years in Australia.

He died at 42. Doctors diagnosed him with severe deterioration of the body.

Afanasy Nikitin is the first Russian traveler to visit India and Persia. Returning back, he visited Somalia, Turkey and Muscat. His notes "Voyage across the Three Seas" became valuable historical and literary aids. He simply and truthfully described medieval India in his notes.

A native of a peasant family, he proved that even a poor person can travel to India. The main thing is to set a goal.

The world has not revealed all its secrets to man. There are still people who dream of opening the veil of unknown worlds.

Famous modern travelers

He is 60, but his soul is still full of thirst for new adventures. At the age of 58, he climbed the summit of Everest, conquered 7 of the greatest peaks along with climbers. He is fearless, purposeful, open to the unknown. His name is Fedor Konyukhov.

And even though the era of great discoveries is long over. It doesn't matter that the Earth has been photographed thousands of times from space. Let all places of the globe be open to travelers and discoverers. He, like a child, believes that there is still a lot of unknown things in the world.

On account of his 40 expeditions and ascents. He crossed seas and oceans, was at the North and South Poles, made 4 voyages around the world, crossed the Atlantic 15 times. Of these, once on a rowing boat. He made most of his travels alone.

Everyone knows his name. His programs had an audience of millions of TV viewers. He is the great man who gave this world the extraordinary beauty of nature, hidden from view in the bottomless depths. Fedor Konyukhov visited different places on our planet, including the hottest place in Russia, which is located in Kalmykia. The site site has Jacques-Yves Cousteau, perhaps the most famous traveler in the world

Even during the war, he continued his experiments and studies of the underwater world. He decided to devote the first film to sunken ships. And the Germans who occupied France allowed him to engage in research activities and take pictures.

He dreamed of a ship that would be equipped with modern technology for filming and observation. He was helped by a complete stranger who presented Cousteau with a small military minesweeper. After renovation work, it turned into the famous ship "Callipso".

The crew of the ship were researchers: journalist, navigator, geologist, volcanologist. His wife was his assistant and companion. Later, his 2 sons also took part in all expeditions.

Cousteau is recognized as the best specialist in underwater research. He received an offer to head the famous Oceanographic Museum in Monaco. He not only studied the underwater world, but also was engaged in activities for the protection of marine and oceanic habitats.
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If you think that all the outstanding wanderers remained in the era of the great geographical discoveries, then we hasten to convince you: our contemporaries also make amazing travels. It is about these people that we will talk.

Photo: background-pictures.picphotos.net

If we talk about the great travelers of our time, then we cannot ignore the unique talent of Fyodor Filippovich Konyukhov to conquer what, at first glance, is impossible to conquer. Today Konyukhov is the first of the best travelers on the planet, to whom the North and South Poles have been submitted, highest peaks peace, seas and oceans. He has more than forty expeditions to the most inaccessible places on our planet.

A descendant of northern pomors from the Arkhangelsk province was born on the coast Sea of ​​Azov in the fishing village of Chkalovo. His irrepressible thirst for knowledge led to the fact that already at the age of 15, Fedor swam across the Sea of ​​Azov in a fishing rowboat. This was the first step towards great achievements. Over the next twenty years, Konyukhov takes part in expeditions to the North and South Poles, conquers the highest peaks, makes four trips around the world, participates in a dog sled race, and crosses the Atlantic Ocean fifteen times. In 2002, the traveler made a solo voyage across the Atlantic in a rowboat and set a record. More recently, on May 31, 2014, Konyukhov was met in Australia with several records at once. The famous Russian became the first to cross the Pacific Ocean from continent to continent. It cannot be said that Fyodor Filippovich is a person fixated only on travel. In addition to the nautical school, the great traveler has the Belarusian Art School in Bobruisk and the Modern Humanitarian University in Moscow. In 1983 Fyodor Konyukhov became the youngest member of the Union of Artists of the USSR. He is also the author of twelve books on own experience overcoming the difficulties of wandering. Upon completion of the legendary crossing of the Pacific Ocean, Konyukhov said that he was not going to stop there. His plans include new projects: a flight around the world on hot-air balloon, circumnavigation in 80 days for the Jules Verne Cup on a keel yacht with a crew, diving into the Mariana Trench.

Today this young English traveler, TV presenter and writer is known to a multi-million audience thanks to the highest-rated TV show on the Discovery Channel. In October 2006, the program "Survive at any cost" began to air with his participation. The goal of the TV presenter is not only to entertain the viewer, but also to provide valuable advice and recommendations that may come in handy in unforeseen situations.

Bear was born in Great Britain into a family of hereditary diplomats, received an excellent education at the elite Ladgrove School and the University of London. Parents did not interfere with the son's hobby for sailing, rock climbing and martial arts. But the future traveler received the skills of endurance and the ability to survive in the army, where he mastered parachute jumping and mountaineering. These skills later helped him achieve his cherished goal - the conquest of Everest. This event took place at the very end of the last century, in 1998. Bear Grylls possesses simply irrepressible energy. The list of his travels is huge. From 2000 to 2007 he sailed around British isles thirty days in advance to raise funds for the British Royal Water Rescue Society; crossed by inflatable boat North Atlantic; by plane with steam engine flew over Angel Falls, dined in a balloon at an altitude of over seven thousand meters; on a paraglider flew over the Himalayas ... In 2008, the traveler was at the head of an expedition organized to climb one of the most remote unconquered peaks in Antarctica. Almost all of the expeditions that Grills participates in are charitable.

If you think that long-distance travel is the prerogative of a strong half of humanity, then you are deeply mistaken. And this was proved by the young American Abby Sunderland, who at the age of 16 alone made a round-the-world trip on a yacht. Interestingly, Abby's parents not only allowed her to undertake such a risky venture, but also helped prepare for it. It should be noted that the girl's father is a professional sailor.

On January 23, 2010, the yacht departed from Marina Del Rey, California. Unfortunately, the maiden voyage was unsuccessful. The second attempt took place on February 6. Very soon, Abby reported damage to the yacht's hull and engine malfunction. At this time, she was between Australia and Africa, 2 thousand miles from the coast. After that, the connection with the girl was interrupted, and nothing was known about her. The search operation was unsuccessful and Abby was reported missing. However, a month later, the yacht received a distress signal from the southern Indian Ocean. After 11 hours of searching by Australian rescuers, a yacht was found in the area of ​​a severe storm, in which, fortunately, Abby was unharmed. A large supply of food and water helped her survive. The girl said that all the time after the last communication session she had to overcome the storm, and she was physically unable to get in touch and send a radiogram. Abby's example inspires the courageous spirit to test their capabilities and not stop there.

One of the most original travelers of our time spent thirteen years of his life on his unusual journey around the world. The non-standard of the situation was that Jason abandoned the achievements of civilization in the form of any kind of technology. The former British janitor set off on his trip around the world with a bicycle, a boat and ... rollers!

Photo: mikaelstrandberg.com

The expedition started from Greenwich in 1994. The 27-year-old Lewis chose his friend Steve Smith as his partner. In February 1995, the travelers reached the United States. After 111 days of sailing, the friends decided to cross the states separately. In 1996, a rollerblading Lewis was hit by a car. He spent nine months in the hospital. After recovering, Lewis travels to Hawaii, and from there he sails on a pedal boat to Australia. In the Solomon Islands, he hit the epicenter civil war, and off the coast of Australia he was attacked by an alligator. Upon arrival in Australia, Lewis interrupts his travel due to financial difficulties and works for a while in a funeral home and sells T-shirts. In 2005 he moved to Singapore, from there to China, from which he moved to India. After cycling through the country, the Briton reaches Africa by March 2007. The remainder of Lewis's journey passes through Europe. He cycled through Romania, Bulgaria, Austria, Germany and Belgium, then swam across the English Channel and returned to London in October 2007, completing his unique journey around the world. James Lewis proved to the whole world and to himself that there is no limit to human capabilities.

Photo: mikaelstrandberg.com

Without the Russian discoverers, the world map would have been completely different. Our compatriots - travelers and seafarers - have made discoveries that have enriched world science. The eight most noticeable are in our material.

Bellingshausen's first Antarctic expedition

In 1819, the navigator, captain of the 2nd rank, Thaddeus Bellingshausen led the first Antarctic round-the-world expedition. The purpose of the voyage was to explore the waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans, as well as proof or refutation of the existence of the sixth continent - Antarctica. Having equipped two sloops - "Mirny" and "Vostok" (under the command of Mikhail Lazarev), Bellingshausen's detachment went to sea.

The expedition lasted 751 days and wrote many bright pages in the history of geographical discoveries. The main one - the discovery of Antarctica - was made on January 28, 1820.

By the way, attempts to open the white continent were made earlier, but they did not bring the desired success: they lacked a little luck, or, perhaps, Russian persistence.

So, the navigator James Cook, summing up the results of his second circumnavigation, wrote: "I went around the ocean of the southern hemisphere in high latitudes and rejected the possibility of the existence of a continent, which, if it can be discovered, then only near the pole in places inaccessible for navigation."

During Bellingshausen's Antarctic expedition, more than 20 islands were discovered and mapped, sketches of Antarctic species and animals living on it were made, and the navigator himself went down in history as a great discoverer.

“The name Bellingshausen can be directly put alongside the names of Columbus and Magellan, with the names of those people who did not give up before the difficulties and imaginary impossibilities created by their predecessors, with the names of people who followed their own independent path, and therefore were the destroyers of obstacles to discoveries, which designate epochs, ”wrote the German geographer August Petermann.

Discovery of Semyonov Tien Shansky

Central Asia at the beginning of the 19th century was one of the least explored regions of the world. An indisputable contribution to the study of the "unknown land" - as geographers called Central Asia - was made by Peter Semyonov.

In 1856, the main dream of the explorer came true - he went on an expedition to the Tien Shan.

“My works on Asian geography led me to a thorough acquaintance with everything that was known about inner Asia. Beckoned me in particular to itself the most central of the Asian mountain ranges - the Tien Shan, on which the foot of a European traveler had not yet set and which was known only from scant Chinese sources.

Semenov's research in Central Asia lasted two years. During this time, the sources of the Chu, Syrdarya and Sary-Jaz rivers, the Khan-Tengri peaks and others were mapped.

The traveler established the location of the Tien Shan ridges, the height of the snow line in this area and discovered the huge Tien Shan glaciers.

In 1906, by decree of the emperor, for the merits of the discoverer, the prefix was added to his surname - Tien Shansky.

Asia Przewalski

In the 70-80s. XIX century Nikolai Przhevalsky led four expeditions to Central Asia. This little-studied area has always attracted the explorer, and a trip to Central Asia was his old dream.

Over the years of research have been studied mountain systems Kun-Lun , ridges of Northern Tibet, sources of the Yellow River and Yangtze, basins Kuku-nora and Lob-nora.

Przewalski was the second person after Marco Polo to reach lakes-swamps Lob-nora!

In addition, the traveler discovered dozens of plant and animal species that are named after him.

“Happy fate made it possible to carry out a feasible study of the least known and most inaccessible countries of inner Asia,” Nikolai Przhevalsky wrote in his diary.

Kruzenstern's circumnavigation

The names of Ivan Kruzenshtern and Yuri Lisyansky became known after the first Russian round-the-world expedition.

For three years, from 1803 to 1806. - that is how long the first circumnavigation lasted - the ships "Nadezhda" and "Neva", passing through the Atlantic Ocean, rounded Cape Horn, and then reached Kamchatka, the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin by the waters of the Pacific Ocean. The expedition refined the map of the Pacific Ocean, collected information about the nature and inhabitants of Kamchatka and the Kuriles.

During the voyage, Russian sailors crossed the equator for the first time. Celebrated this event, according to tradition, with the participation of Neptune.

The sailor, dressed in the lord of the seas, asked Kruzenstern why he came here with his ships, because the Russian flag had not been seen in these places before. To which the commander of the expedition replied: "For the glory of science and our fatherland!"

Expedition of Nevelskoy

Admiral Gennady Nevelskoy is rightfully considered one of the outstanding navigators of the 19th century. In 1849 at transport ship"Baikal" he goes on an expedition to Far East.

The Amur expedition lasted until 1855, during which time Nevelskoy made several major discoveries in the area of ​​the lower Amur and northern shores Sea of ​​Japan, annexed to Russia the vast areas of the Amur and Primorye.

Thanks to the navigator, it became known that Sakhalin is an island that is separated by the navigable Tatar Strait, and the mouth of the Amur is accessible for ships to enter from the sea.

In 1850, a detachment of Nevelskoy founded the Nikolaevsky post, which today is known as Nikolaevsk-on-Amur.

“The discoveries made by Nevelsky are invaluable for Russia,” wrote Count Nikolai Muravyov-Amursky - Many previous expeditions to these lands could achieve European glory, but none of them achieved domestic benefits, at least to the extent that Nevelskoy did it. "

Vilkitsky North

The purpose of the hydrographic expedition of the Arctic Ocean in 1910-1915. was the development of the Northern Sea Route. By chance, the duties of the head of the voyage were taken over by the captain of the 2nd rank Boris Vilkitsky. Icebreaking ships "Taimyr" and "Vaygach" went to sea.

Vilkitsky moved along the northern water area from east to west, and during the voyage he managed to compose a true description of the northern coast of Eastern Siberia and many islands, received the most important information about the currents and climate, and also became the first who made a through voyage from Vladivostok to Arkhangelsk.

The expedition members discovered the Land of Emperor Nicholas II, known today as New earth- This discovery is considered the last of the significant on the globe.

In addition, thanks to Vilkitsky, the islands of Maly Taimyr, Starokadomsky and Zhokhov were mapped.

At the end of the expedition, the First World War... The traveler Roald Amundsen, having learned about the success of Vilkitsky's voyage, could not resist exclaiming to him:

"V Peaceful time this expedition would excite the whole world! "

Kamchatka campaign of Bering and Chirikov

The second quarter of the 18th century was rich in geographical discoveries... All of them were made during the First and Second Kamchatka expeditions, which immortalized the names of Vitus Bering and Alexei Chirikov.

During the First Kamchatka campaign Bering - the leader of the expedition and his assistant Chirikov investigated and mapped Pacific coast Kamchatka and Northeast Asia. They discovered two peninsulas - Kamchatsky and Ozerny, Kamchatsky Bay, Karaginsky Bay, Cross Bay, Providence Bay and St. Lawrence Island, as well as the strait, which today bears the name of Vitus Bering.

Companions - Bering and Chirikov - also led the Second Kamchatka Expedition. The goal of the campaign was to find a way to North America and explore the Pacific islands.

In Avacha Bay, the expedition members laid the foundation for the Petropavlovsk prison - in honor of the ships of navigation "St. Peter" and "St. Paul" - which was later renamed Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

When the ships sailed to the shores of America, by the will of evil fate, Bering and Chirikov began to act alone - because of the fog, their ships lost each other.

"St. Peter" under the leadership of Bering reached the western coast of America.

And on the way back, the members of the expedition, who had a lot of difficulties, were thrown into a small island by a storm. Here Vitus Bering's life ended, and the island where the expedition members stopped to spend the winter was named after Bering.
"St. Paul" Chirikov also reached the shores of America, but the voyage ended more safely for him - on the way back he discovered a number of islands in the Aleutian ridge and returned safely to the Peter and Paul prison.

Ivan Moskvitin's "Tumbling Lands"

Little is known about the life of Ivan Moskvitin, but this man still went down in history, and the reason for this is the new lands he discovered.

In 1639, Moskvitin, leading a detachment of Cossacks, set sail for the Far East. The main goal of the travelers was “to find new unseasoned lands”, to collect furs and fish. The Cossacks overcame the Aldan, Mayu and Yudomu rivers, discovered the Dzhugdzhur ridge, which separates the rivers of the Lena basin from the rivers flowing into the sea, and along the Ulya river entered the "Lamskoye" or Okhotsk Sea. Having explored the coast, the Cossacks discovered the Tauiskaya Bay and entered the Sakhalin Bay, circling the Shantar Islands.

One of the Cossacks reported that the rivers in open lands"Sable, there are many animals, and fish, and the fish is big, there is no such thing in Siberia ... there is so much of it - just run the seine and you can't drag the fish out ...".