Great Russian travelers whose names are immortalized on a geographical map. Famous travelers and their great discoveries

If you think that all outstanding wanderers remained in the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries, then we hasten to convince you: our contemporaries also make amazing journeys. It is these people that will be discussed.

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If we talk about the great travelers of our time, then it is impossible to 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, who conquered the North and South Poles, the highest peaks of the world, the 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 shores of the 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 crossed the Sea of ​​\u200b\u200bAzov on a fishing rowing boat. It was the first step on the way to 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, 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 was the first to cross the Pacific Ocean from continent to continent. It cannot be said that Fedor 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, Fedor Konyukhov became the youngest member of the Union of Artists of the USSR. He is also the author of twelve books about his own experiences of overcoming the difficulties of wandering. At the end of the legendary passage across the Pacific Ocean, Konyukhov said that he was not going to stop there. He plans new projects: flying around the world in a balloon, sailing around the world 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 an audience of millions thanks to the highest-rated TV show on the Discovery Channel. In October 2006, the program “Survive at all costs” began to air with his participation. The goal of the TV presenter is not only to entertain the viewer, but also to give valuable advice and recommendations that may come in handy in unforeseen situations.

Born Bear in the UK in a family of hereditary diplomats, he received an excellent education at the elite Ladgrove School and the University of London. Parents did not interfere with their son's passion for sailing, rock climbing and martial arts. But the future traveler received endurance and survival skills in the army, where he mastered skydiving and mountaineering. These skills helped him subsequently achieve his cherished goal - the conquest of Everest. This event took place at the very end of the last century, in 1998. Bear Grylls has just irrepressible energy. The list of his travels is huge. From 2000 to 2007 he sailed around the British Isles in thirty days to raise funds for the British Royal Society for Water Rescue; crossed the North Atlantic in an inflatable boat; flew over the Angel Falls on a steam-powered plane, dined in a balloon at an altitude of more than seven thousand meters; paragliding over the Himalayas... In 2008, the traveler led an expedition organized to climb one of the most remote unclimbed peaks in Antarctica. Almost all of the expeditions Grylls participates in are charitable.

If you think that long journeys are the prerogative of the 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 make such a risky venture, but also helped to prepare for it. It should be noted that the girl's father is a professional sailor.

January 23, 2010 the yacht left the port of Marina Del Rey, in California. Unfortunately, the first voyage was unsuccessful. The second attempt took place on 6 February. Very soon, Abby reported damage to the yacht's hull and engine failure. At that 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 declared missing. However, a month later, a distress signal was received from the yacht from the southern part of the Indian Ocean. After 11 hours of searching by Australian rescuers in a severe storm, a yacht was discovered in which, fortunately, Abby was safe and sound. 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 physically could not get in touch and send a radiogram. Abby's example inspires the brave in spirit to test their abilities and not stop there.

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

Photo: mikaelstrandberg.com

The expedition started from Greenwich in 1994. The 27-year-old Lewis chose his friend Steve Smith as his partners. In February 1995, the travelers reached the United States. After 111 days of sailing, the friends decided to cross the states separately. In 1996, rollerblading Lewis is hit by a car. He spent nine months in the hospital. After recovering, Lewis goes to Hawaii, and from there on a pedal boat sails to Australia. In the Solomon Islands, he was at the epicenter of the civil war, and off the coast of Australia he was attacked by an alligator. Upon arriving in Australia, Lewis cuts short the trip due to financial difficulties and works for a short time at a funeral home and sells T-shirts. In 2005, he moved to Singapore, from there to China, from which he moved to India. Having traveled the country on a bicycle, the Briton reaches Africa by March 2007. The remainder of the Lewis route passes through Europe. He cycled through Romania, Bulgaria, Austria, Germany and Belgium, then crossed 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

Travel has always attracted people, but before they were not only interesting, but also extremely difficult. The territories were not explored, and, setting off on a journey, everyone became an explorer. Which travelers are the most famous and what exactly did each of them discover?

James Cook

The famous Englishman was one of the best cartographers of the eighteenth century. He was born in the north of England and by the age of thirteen he began to work with his father. But the boy was unable to trade, so he decided to take up navigation. In those days, all the famous travelers of the world went to distant countries on ships. James became interested in maritime affairs and moved up the career ladder so quickly that he was offered to become a captain. He refused and went to the Royal Navy. Already in 1757, the talented Cook began to manage the ship himself. His first achievement was the drawing up of the fairway of the St. Lawrence River. He discovered in himself the talent of a navigator and cartographer. In the 1760s he explored Newfoundland, which attracted the attention of the Royal Society and the Admiralty. He was assigned to travel across the Pacific Ocean, where he reached the shores of New Zealand. In 1770, he did something that other famous travelers had not achieved before - he discovered a new continent. In 1771, Cook returned to England as the famous pioneer of Australia. His last journey was an expedition in search of a passage connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Today, even schoolchildren know the sad fate of Cook, who was killed by cannibal natives.

Christopher Columbus

Famous travelers and their discoveries have always had a significant impact on the course of history, but few have been as famous as this man. Columbus became a national hero of Spain, decisively expanding the map of the country. Christopher was born in 1451. The boy quickly achieved success because he was diligent and studied well. Already at the age of 14 he went to sea. In 1479, he met his love and began life in Portugal, but after the tragic death of his wife, he went with his son to Spain. Having received the support of the Spanish king, he went on an expedition, the purpose of which was to find a way to Asia. Three ships sailed from the coast of Spain to the west. In October 1492 they reached the Bahamas. This is how America was discovered. Christopher mistakenly decided to call the locals Indians, believing that he had reached India. His report changed history: two new continents and many islands, discovered by Columbus, became the main travel destination of the colonialists in the next few centuries.

Vasco da Gama

Portugal's most famous traveler was born in Sines on September 29, 1460. From a young age, he worked in the Navy and became famous as a confident and fearless captain. In 1495, King Manuel came to power in Portugal, who dreamed of developing trade with India. For this, a sea route was needed, in search of which Vasco da Gama had to go. There were also more famous sailors and travelers in the country, but for some reason the king chose him. In 1497, four ships sailed south, rounded and sailed to Mozambique. I had to stay there for a month - half of the team had scurvy by that time. After a break, Vasco da Gama reached Calcutta. In India, he established trade relations for three months, and a year later he returned to Portugal, where he became a national hero. The opening of the sea route, which made it possible to get to Calcutta past the east coast of Africa, was his main achievement.

Nikolay Miklukho-Maclay

Famous Russian travelers also made many important discoveries. For example, the same Nikolai Mikhlukho-Maclay, who was born in 1864 in the Novgorod province. He could not graduate from St. Petersburg University, as he was expelled for participating in student demonstrations. To continue his education, Nikolai went to Germany, where he met Haeckel, a naturalist who invited Miklouho-Maclay to his scientific expedition. So the world of wanderings opened up for him. His whole life was devoted to travel and scientific work. Nikolai lived in Sicily, in Australia, studied New Guinea, implementing the project of the Russian Geographical Society, visited Indonesia, the Philippines, the Malay Peninsula and Oceania. In 1886, the naturalist returned to Russia and proposed to the emperor to establish a Russian colony across the ocean. But the project with New Guinea did not receive royal support, and Miklouho-Maclay fell seriously ill and soon died, without completing his work on a travel book.

Ferdinand Magellan

Many famous navigators and travelers lived in the era of the Great Magellan is no exception. In 1480 he was born in Portugal, in the city of Sabrosa. Having gone to serve at court (at that time he was only 12 years old), he learned about the confrontation between his native country and Spain, about traveling to the East Indies and trade routes. So he first became interested in the sea. In 1505, Fernand got on a ship. Seven years after that, he plied the sea, participated in expeditions to India and Africa. In 1513, Magellan went to Morocco, where he was wounded in battle. But this did not curb the craving for travel - he planned an expedition for spices. The king rejected his request, and Magellan went to Spain, where he received all the necessary support. Thus began his world tour. Fernand thought that from the west the route to India might be shorter. He crossed the Atlantic Ocean, reached South America and discovered the strait, which would later be named after him. became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean. On it, he reached the Philippines and almost reached the goal - the Moluccas, but died in battle with local tribes, wounded by a poisonous arrow. However, his journey opened up a new ocean for Europe and the realization that the planet is much larger than scientists had previously thought.

Roald Amundsen

The Norwegian was born at the very end of an era in which many famous travelers became famous. Amundsen was the last of the navigators who tried to find undiscovered lands. From childhood, he was distinguished by perseverance and self-confidence, which allowed him to conquer the South Geographic Pole. The beginning of the journey is connected with 1893, when the boy left the university and got a job as a sailor. In 1896 he became a navigator, and the following year he went on his first expedition to Antarctica. The ship was lost in the ice, the crew suffered from scurvy, but Amundsen did not give up. He took command, cured the people, remembering his medical background, and brought the ship back to Europe. After becoming a captain, in 1903 he went in search of the Northwest Passage off Canada. Famous travelers before him had never done anything like this - in two years the team covered the path from the east of the American mainland to its west. Amundsen became known to the whole world. The next expedition was a two-month trip to the South Plus, and the last venture was the search for Nobile, during which he went missing.

David Livingston

Many famous travelers are connected with seafaring. he became a land explorer, namely the African continent. The famous Scot was born in March 1813. At the age of 20, he decided to become a missionary, met Robert Moffett and wished to go to African villages. In 1841, he came to Kuruman, where he taught local people how to farm, served as a doctor, and taught literacy. There he learned the Bechuan language, which helped him in his travels in Africa. Livingston studied in detail the life and customs of the locals, wrote several books about them and went on an expedition in search of the sources of the Nile, in which he fell ill and died of a fever.

Amerigo Vespucci

The most famous travelers in the world were most often from Spain or Portugal. Amerigo Vespucci was born in Italy and became one of the famous Florentines. He received a good education and trained as a financier. From 1490 he worked in Seville, in the Medici trade mission. His life was connected with sea travel, for example, he sponsored the second expedition of Columbus. Christopher inspired him with the idea of ​​trying himself as a traveler, and already in 1499 Vespucci went to Suriname. The purpose of the voyage was to study the coastline. There he opened a settlement called Venezuela - little Venice. In 1500 he returned home with 200 slaves. In 1501 and 1503 Amerigo repeated his travels, acting not only as a navigator, but also as a cartographer. He discovered the bay of Rio de Janeiro, the name of which he gave himself. Since 1505, he served the king of Castile and did not participate in campaigns, only equipped other people's expeditions.

Francis Drake

Many famous travelers and their discoveries have benefited humanity. But among them there are those who left behind a bad memory, since their names were associated with rather cruel events. An English Protestant, who had sailed on a ship from the age of twelve, was no exception. He captured local residents in the Caribbean, selling them into slavery to the Spaniards, attacked ships and fought with Catholics. Perhaps no one could equal Drake in terms of the number of captured foreign ships. His campaigns were sponsored by the Queen of England. In 1577 he went to South America to defeat the Spanish settlements. During the journey, he found Tierra del Fuego and the strait, which was later named after him. Rounding Argentina, Drake plundered the port of Valparaiso and two Spanish ships. When he reached California, he met the natives, who presented the British with gifts of tobacco and bird feathers. Drake crossed the Indian Ocean and returned to Plymouth, becoming the first British citizen to circumnavigate the world. He was admitted to the House of Commons and awarded the title of Sir. In 1595 he died in the last campaign in the Caribbean.

Afanasy Nikitin

Few famous travelers in Russia have achieved the same heights as this native of Tver. Afanasy Nikitin became the first European to visit India. He made a trip to the Portuguese colonizers and wrote "Journey Beyond the Three Seas" - the most valuable literary and historical monument. The success of the expedition was ensured by the merchant's career: Athanasius knew several languages ​​and knew how to negotiate with people. On his journey, he visited Baku, lived in Persia for about two years and reached India by ship. After visiting several cities in an exotic country, he went to Parvat, where he stayed for a year and a half. After the province of Raichur, he headed to Russia, paving the route through the Arabian and Somali Peninsulas. However, Afanasy Nikitin never made it home, because he fell ill and died near Smolensk, but his notes survived and provided the merchant with world fame.

One of the important stages in the history of human development is the era of discoverers. The maps with the seas marked on them are being refined, the ships are being improved, and the leaders are sending their sailors to seize new lands.

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Era Feature

The term "great geographical discoveries" conditionally united historical events, starting from the middle of the 15th century and ending with the middle of the 17th. Europeans were actively engaged in the exploration of new lands.

For the emergence of this era, there were prerequisites: the search for new trade routes and the development of navigation. Until the 15th century, the British already knew North America and Iceland. Many famous travelers entered the history, among them were Afanasy Nikitin, Rubrik and others.

Important! The Prince of Portugal, Henry the Navigator, began the great era of geographical discoveries, this event took place at the beginning of the 15th century.

First Accomplishments

Geographical science of that time was in serious decline. Lone sailors tried to share their discoveries with the public, but this did not work, and there was more fiction in their stories than truth. Data on what and who discovered at sea or on the coastal strip were lost and forgotten, no one had updated the maps for a long time. Skippers were simply afraid to go to sea, because not everyone had navigation skills.

Heinrich built a citadel near Cape Sagres, created a school of navigation and sent expeditions, collecting information about the winds in the sea, distant peoples and shores. The period of great geographical discoveries began with his activities.

Among the discoveries of Portuguese travelers are:

  1. Madeira Island,
  2. west coast of africa,
  3. Cape Verde,
  4. Cape of Good Hope,
  5. Azores,
  6. Congo river.

Why was it necessary to find new lands

The list of reasons for the advent of the era of navigation includes:

  • active development of crafts and trade;
  • the growth of European cities during the 15th and 16th centuries;
  • depletion of known precious metal mines;
  • the development of maritime navigation and the advent of the compass;
  • interruption of the economic ties of Southern Europe with China and India after .

Important Points

Significant periods that went down in history, the times when famous travelers made their trips and expeditions:

The era of great geographical discoveries began in 1492, when America was discovered;

  • 1500 - exploration of the mouth of the Amazon;
  • 1513 - Vasco de Balboa discovers the Pacific Ocean;
  • 1519-1553 - the conquest of South America;
  • 1576-1629 - Russian campaigns in Siberia;
  • 1603-1638 - exploration of Canada;
  • 1642-1643 - visiting Tasmania and New Zealand;
  • 1648 - study of Kamchatka.

Conquest of South America

Spanish and Portuguese navigators

At the same time as the Portuguese, famous travelers of Spain began to undertake sea voyages. , having good knowledge in the field of geography and navigation, suggested that the rulers of the country reach India by another route, following west across the Atlantic Ocean. The one who later discovered many new lands was given three caravels, on which brave sailors left the port on August 3, 1492.

Already by the beginning of October, they arrived at the first island, which became known as San Salvador, later they discovered Haiti and Cuba. It was Columbus' seminal voyage that put the Caribbean Islands on the map. Then there were two more, pointing the way to Central and South America.

Christopher Columbus - a mysterious person

First he visited the island of Cuba, and only then discovered America. Columbus was surprised to meet on the island a civilized people who had a rich culture, were engaged in the cultivation of cotton, tobacco and potatoes. Cities were decorated with large statues and large buildings.

Interesting! Everyone knows the name of Christopher Columbus. However, very little is known about his life and travels.

The birth of this legendary navigator is still being debated. Several cities claim to be the birthplace of Columbus, but this is no longer known for certain. He participated in boat trips in the Mediterranean, and later went on major expeditions from his native Portugal.

Ferdinand Magellan

Magellan was also from Portugal. Born in 1480. Early left without parents, he tried to survive on his own, working as a messenger. Since childhood, he was attracted by the sea, attracted by the thirst for travel and discovery.

At the age of 25, Ferdinand set sail for the first time. He quickly learned the maritime profession while staying off the coast of India and soon became a captain. He wanted to return to his homeland, talking about beneficial cooperation with the East, but he achieved results only with the coming to power of Charles the First.

Important! The era of great geographical discoveries began in the middle of the 15th century. Magellan warned her attack by making a trip around the world.

In 1493 Magellan leads an expedition west of Spain. He has a goal: to prove that the islands located there belong to his country. No one thought that the journey would become around the world, and the navigator would discover many new things along the way. The one who opened the way to the "South Sea" did not return home, but died in the Philippines. His team arrived at home only in 1522.

Russian pioneers

Representatives of Russia and their discoveries joined the orderly ranks of the famous European navigators. Several outstanding personalities have made a great contribution to the improvement of the world map, which are worth knowing about.

Thaddeus Bellingshausen

Bellingshausen was the first who dared to lead an expedition to the uncharted shores of Antarctica, and around the world. This event took place in 1812. The navigator set out to prove or disprove the existence of the sixth mainland, which was only talked about. The expedition crossed the Indian Ocean, Pacific, Atlantic. Its participants made a great contribution to the development of geography. The expedition under the command of Captain 2nd Rank Bellingshausen lasted 751 days.

Interesting! Previously, attempts were made to get to Antarctica, but they all failed, only Russian famous travelers turned out to be more lucky and stubborn.

The navigator Bellingshausen went down in history as the discoverer of many species of animals and more than 20 large islands. The captain was one of the few who managed to find their way, follow it and not destroy the barriers.

Nikolai Przhevalsky

Among the Russian travelers was the one who discovered most of Central Asia. Nikolai Przhevalsky always dreamed of visiting unexplored Asia. This continent beckoned him. The navigator led each of the four expeditions that explored Central Asia. Curiosity led to the discovery and study of such mountain systems as Kun-Lun and the ranges of Northern Tibet. The sources of the Yangtze and Huang He rivers, as well as Lob-nora and Kuhu-nora were investigated. Nikolai was the second explorer after Marco Polo to reach Lob-nor.

Przhevalsky, like others / travelers of the era of great geographical discoveries, considered himself a happy person, because fate gave him the opportunity to explore the mysterious countries of the Asian world. Many species of animals described by him during his travels are named after him.

The first Russian circumnavigation

Ivan Kruzenshtern and his colleague Yuri Lisyansky firmly inscribed their names in the history of great discoveries in geography. They led the first expedition around the globe, which lasted more than three years - from 1803 to 1806. During this period, sailors on two ships crossed the Atlantic, sailed through Cape Horn, after which they arrived in Kamchatka along the waters of the Pacific Ocean. There, the researchers studied the Kuriles and Sakhalin Island. Their coast was clarified, and data on all the waters visited by the expedition were also entered on the map. Kruzenshtern compiled an atlas of the Pacific Ocean.

The expedition under the command of the admiral was the first to cross the equator. This event was celebrated according to tradition.

Exploration of the Eurasian continent

Eurasia is a huge continent, but it is problematic to name the only person who would discover it.

Surprise causes one moment. If everything is clear with America and Antarctica, the famous names of the great navigators are reliably inscribed in the history of their existence, then the man who discovered Europe did not get the laurels, because he simply does not exist.

If we discard the search for one navigator, then we can list many names who have contributed to the study of the surrounding world and took part in expeditions around the mainland and its coastal zone. Europeans are accustomed to consider themselves only explorers of Eurasia, but Asian navigators and their discoveries are no less in scope.

Historians know which of the Russian writers made a round-the-world trip, except for the famous navigators. It was Ivan Goncharov, who participated in the expedition on a military sailing ship. His impressions of the trip resulted in a large collection of diaries describing distant countries.

The Importance of Cartography

People could hardly move on the sea without good navigation. Previously, their main reference point was the starry sky at night and the sun during the day. Many maps during the period of great geographical discoveries were dependent on the sky. Since the 17th century, a map has been preserved on which the scientist plotted all known coastal zones and continents, but Siberia and North America remained unknown, because no one knew how far they were and how far the continents themselves extended.

The atlases of Gerard van Köhlen were the richest in terms of information. Captains and famous travelers crossing the Atlantic were grateful for the charting of details about Iceland, Holland and Labrador.

Unusual information

Interesting facts about travelers have been preserved in history:

  1. James Cook became the first person to visit all six continents.
  2. Seafarers and their discoveries changed the face of many lands, so James Cook brought sheep to the islands of Tahiti and New Zealand.
  3. Che Guevara, before his revolutionary activities, was a lover of riding a motorcycle, he made a tour of 4 thousand kilometers, touring South America.
  4. Charles Darwin traveled by ship, where he wrote his greatest work on evolution. But they didn’t want to take the man on board, and it was in the shape of the nose. It seemed to the captain that such a person would not be able to cope with a long load. Darwin had to be off the team and buy his own uniforms.

The era of the great geographical discoveries 15-17 centuries

Great pioneers

Conclusion

Thanks to the heroism and purposefulness of the sailors, people received valuable information about the world. This served as an impetus for many changes, contributed to the development of trade, the industrial sector, and the strengthening of relations with other peoples. Most importantly, it has been practically proven that it has a rounded shape.

The article contains information about Russian navigators-researchers. Reflects the significance of their discoveries. Includes some historical information.

Russian travelers and discoverers

Russian travelers have made an invaluable contribution to the field of geographical discoveries, as well as to the exploration and development of the space of the globe. Many significant objects of the Earth are named in their honor. For example:

  • Cape Dezhnev;
  • Bering Sea;
  • Semyonov Glacier.

The scientific research of the Russian discoverers and the detailed maps compiled by them were of great importance for the development of geography not only in Russia, but also in the world.
Almost three decades earlier than Vasco da Gama, a merchant from Tver, Afanasy Nikitin, visited India (the year of birth is unknown - he died in 1474).

He went on a business trip. During his travels (1468-1474) Nikitin visited many previously unknown countries. He lived in India for three years. All this time he recorded in detail every step he took. Later, the book “Journey Beyond Three Seas” was published, which was based on his notes. The book contained both notes and illustrations made by Nikitin.

Rice. 1. Afanasy Nikitin.

Discoveries in the heat of battle

Almost all travelers of the XV-XVI centuries are known in history more as land invaders than their discoverers and pioneers. These people were puzzled by the search for wealth in overseas countries. This is what motivated them in the process of searching for new lands. Significant geographical discoveries were obtained as if by themselves. Approximately the same story happened with the development of Siberia. But historians differ on this point.

Ermak Timofeevich Alenin (1530/1540 -1585) is rightly considered the pioneer of these lands.

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Rice. 2. Yermak.

He was sent by Ivan the Terrible to protect his lands from the raids of the Nogai Horde.

After the complaints of the surviving Horde residents to the Moscow Tsar about the willfulness of the local Cossacks, Ivan the Terrible allegedly punished the troublemakers, allowing them to retreat to the Permian lands, where the Cossacks came in very handy and continued to defend Russian possessions from the raids of the Siberian Khan Kuchum. Since then, the development of the richest region of Russia has begun.

After the death of the famous ataman, many regions of Russia claimed that Yermak was a native of precisely their places.

Table “Discoveries of Russian travelers”

At the beginning of the 16th century, it was difficult for the peoples of the North to establish trade relations with India. The Spanish and Portuguese colonists did not want to let outsiders into the territories they had conquered.
In those days, the passage through the Arctic Ocean to the Pacific was known to people only by rumor.
But in the Russian lands a man was found who was not afraid to go on a dangerous journey across the Arctic Ocean. It was a Russian navigator, explorer and traveler Semyon Dezhnev (1605-1673).

Rice. 3. Semyon Dezhnev.

Exploration of the northeastern section of the sea route from the Arctic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean is closely intertwined with his name. His voyage and subsequently the discovery of the strait between America and Asia is often equated with the journey of the famous discoverer of America, Christopher Columbus.
Another famous Russian navigator who contributed to world geography was Vitus Bering. He became the first traveler in the history of Russia to lead a purposeful expedition with a geographical bias.

Bering led two Kamchatka expeditions. When passing between the Chukchi Peninsula and Alaska, they confirmed the presence of the strait.