The history of Russia is connected with many Russian sea expeditions of the 18th–20th centuries. But a special place among them is occupied by sailing ships around the world. Russian sailors began to make such voyages later than other European maritime powers. By the time the first Russian circumnavigation of the world was organized, four European countries had already completed 15 similar voyages, starting with F. Magellan (1519–1522) and ending with the third voyage of J. Cook. English sailors have the most voyages around the world - eight, including three under the command of Cook. The Dutch made five voyages, the Spaniards and the French made one each. Russia became the fifth country on this list, but in terms of the number of circumnavigations it has surpassed all European countries combined. In the 19th century Russian sailing ships made more than 30 full circumnavigations and about 15 semi-circumnavigations, when the ships that arrived from the Baltic to the Pacific Ocean remained to serve in the Far East and Russian America.

Failed expeditions

Golovin and Sanders (1733)

Peter I was the first to think about the possibility and necessity of long-distance voyages in Russia. He intended to organize an expedition to Madagascar and India, but did not have time to carry out his plan. The idea of ​​a circumnavigation of the world with a visit to Kamchatka was first expressed by the flagships of the Russian fleet, members of the Admiralty Board, Admirals N.F. Golovin and T. Sanders in connection with the organization of the Second Kamchatka Expedition. In October 1732, they presented to the Senate their opinion on the advisability of sending an expedition “from St. Petersburg on two frigates across the Great Sea-Okiyan around the Horn and into the Southern Sea, and between the Japanese Islands even to Kamchatka.”

They proposed repeating such expeditions annually, replacing some ships with others. This should have allowed, in their opinion, to organize in a shorter time and better the supply of V. Bering’s expedition with everything necessary, and to quickly establish trade relations with Japan. In addition, long voyages could become good maritime practice for officers and sailors of the Russian fleet. Golovin proposed sending Bering himself to Kamchatka by land, and asked to entrust him with the leadership of the voyage of the two frigates. However, the ideas of Golovin and Sanders were not supported by the Senate and the opportunity to organize the first Russian voyage in 1733 was missed.

Krenitsyn (1764)

In 1764, it was decided to send an expedition of Captain-Lieutenant P.K. Krenitsyn around the world to Kamchatka, but due to the impending war with Turkey it could not be carried out. The voyage that Vice-President of the Admiralty Collegium I. G. Chernyshev tried to organize in 1781 also did not take place. In 1786, the head of the “North-East... Expedition,” Lieutenant-Commander I. I. Billings (a participant in Cook’s third voyage), presented to the Admiralty Board the opinion of his officers that, at the end of the expedition, the return route of its ships would lie around Cape Dobroy Hopes in Kronstadt. He was also refused.

But on December 22 of the same 1786, Catherine II signed a decree of the Admiralty Board on sending a squadron to Kamchatka to protect Russian possessions: “... on the occasion of an attempt by English commercial industrialists on the production of trade and animal fishing in the East Sea, on the preservation of the right of ours to the lands discovered by Russian navigators, we command our Admiralty Board to send from the Baltic Sea two ships, armed according to the example used by the English captain Cook and other navigators for similar discoveries, and two armed sea boats or other ships, at its best discretion, assigning them go around the Cape of Good Hope, and from there, continuing through the Strait of Sonda and, leaving Japan on the left, go to Kamchatka.”

The Admiralty Board was instructed to immediately prepare appropriate instructions for the expedition, appoint a commander and servants, preferably volunteers, and make orders on armament, supplies and dispatch of ships. Such a rush was associated with a report to Catherine by her Secretary of State, Major General F.I. Soimonov, about the violation of the inviolability of Russian waters by foreigners. The reason for the report was the entry into Peter and Paul Harbor in the summer of 1786 by a ship of the English East India Company under the command of Captain William Peters with the aim of establishing trade relations. This was not the first time foreigners appeared in Russian possessions in the Pacific Ocean, which caused alarm among the authorities about their fate.

As early as March 26, 1773, Prosecutor General Vyazemsky, in a letter to the Kamchatka commandant, admitted the possibility of a French squadron appearing off the coast of Kamchatka in connection with the case of M. Benevsky. In St. Petersburg, news was received that a flotilla and 1,500 soldiers were being equipped in France for Benevsky. It was about equipping Benevsky’s colonial expedition to Madagascar, in which twelve Kamchatka residents who fled with Benevsky took part. But in St. Petersburg they suspected that since Benevsky knew well the disastrous state of the defense of Kamchatka and the way there, this expedition could go to the peninsula.

In 1779, the Irkutsk governor reported the appearance of unrecognized foreign ships in the area of ​​the Chukotka nose. These were Cook's ships, heading from Petropavlovsk in search of the northwest passage around America. The governor proposed to bring Kamchatka into a “defensive position”, since the path to it had become known to foreigners. The entry of Cook's ships into the Peter and Paul Harbor in 1779 could not but alarm the Russian government, especially after it became known that the British were putting on their maps the American coasts and islands long discovered by Russian navigators and giving them their names. In addition, in St. Petersburg it became known that the French expedition of J. F. La Perouse was sent on a circumnavigation of the world in 1786. But it was still unknown about the expedition of Tokunai Mogami to the southern Kuril Islands in the same year, which, after collecting yasaka there, Iv. Cherny in 1768 and the Lebedev-Lastochnik expedition in 1778–1779, Russia considered its own.

All this forced Catherine II to order the President of the Commerce Collegium, Count A.R. Vorontsov, and a member of the Collegium of Foreign Affairs, Count A.A. Bezborodko, to present their proposals on the issue of protecting Russian possessions in the Pacific Ocean. It was they who proposed sending a Russian squadron on a circumnavigation of the world and announcing to the maritime powers about Russia’s rights to the islands and lands discovered by Russian sailors in the Pacific Ocean.

Mulovsky (1787)

The proposals of Vorontsov and Bezborodko formed the basis of the aforementioned decree of Catherine II of December 22, 1786, as well as the instructions of the Admiralty Board to the head of the first round-the-world expedition of April 17, 1787.

After discussing various candidates, 29-year-old captain 1st rank Grigory Ivanovich Mulovsky, a relative of the vice-president of the Admiralty Board I.G. Chernyshev, was appointed head of the expedition. After graduating from the Naval Cadet Corps in 1774, he served for twelve years on various ships in the Mediterranean, Black and Baltic Seas, commanded the frigates Nikolai and Maria in the Baltic, and then a court boat sailing between Peterhof and Krasnaya Gorka. He knew French, German, English and Italian. After a campaign with Sukhotin’s squadron in Livorno, Mulovsky received command of the ship “David of Sasun” in Chichagov’s squadron in the Mediterranean Sea, and at the end of the campaign he was appointed commander of “John the Theologian” in Cruz’s squadron in the Baltic.

The list of tasks of the expedition included various goals: military (consolidating Russia and protecting its possessions in the Pacific Ocean, delivering fortress guns for the Peter and Paul Harbor and other ports, establishing a Russian fortress in the southern Kuril Islands, etc.), economic (delivery of necessary cargo to Russian possessions, livestock for breeding, seeds of various vegetable crops, establishment of trade with Japan and other neighboring countries), political (affirmation of Russian rights to lands discovered by Russian sailors in the Pacific Ocean, by installing cast-iron coats of arms and medals with the image of the Empress, etc.) , scientific (compiling accurate maps, conducting various scientific research, studying Sakhalin, the mouth of the Amur and other objects).

If this expedition were destined to take place, then now there would not be a question about the ownership of the southern Kuril Islands, seventy years earlier Russia could have begun the development of the Amur region, Primorye and Sakhalin, otherwise the fate of Russian America could have been shaped. There have never been voyages around the world on such a scale either before or since. Magellan's expedition included five ships and 265 people, of which only one ship with 18 sailors returned. Cook's third voyage included two ships and 182 crew.

G.I. Mulovsky’s squadron included five ships: “Kholmogor” (“Kolmagor”) with a displacement of 600 tons, “Solovki” - 530 tons, “Falcon” and “Turukhan” (“Turukhtan”) - 450 tons each, and transport ship "Smely". Cook's ships were significantly smaller: Resolution - 446 tons and 112 crew members and Discovery - 350 tons and 70 people. The crew of the flagship ship "Kholmogor" under the command of Mulovsky himself consisted of 169 people, "Solovkov" under the command of captain 2nd rank Alexei Mikhailovich Kireevsky - 154 people, "Falcon" and "Turukhan" under the command of captain-lieutenants Efim (Joakim) Karlovich von Sivers and Dmitry Sergeevich Trubetskoy - 111 people each.

The Admiralty Board promised the officers (there were about forty of them) extraordinary promotion to the next rank and double pay for the duration of the voyage. Catherine II personally determined the procedure for awarding Captain Mulovsky: “when he passes the Canary Islands, let him announce the rank of brigadier; having reached the Cape of Good Hope, bestow upon him the Order of St. Vladimir, 3rd class; when he reaches Japan, he will receive the rank of major general.”

The flagship ship was equipped with a forty-bed infirmary with a trained doctor, and other ships were equipped with medical assistants. A priest with a clergy was also appointed to the flagship and hieromonks to other ships.

The scientific part of the expedition was entrusted to academician Peter Simon Pallas, who was promoted to the rank of historiographer of the Russian fleet on December 31, 1786 with a salary of 750 rubles. in year. Secretary Stepanov, who studied at Moscow and English universities, was invited to “keep a detailed travel journal in pure calm.” The expedition's scientific team also included the astronomer William Bailey, a participant in Cook's voyage, the naturalist Georg Forster, the botanist Sommering and four painters. In England it was intended to purchase astronomical and physical instruments: Godley's sextants, Arnold's chronometers, quadrants, telescopes, thermo- and barometers, for which Pallas entered into correspondence with the Greenwich astronomer Meskelin.

The flagship's library consisted of over fifty titles, among which were: “Description of the Land of Kamchatka” by S.P. Krasheninnikov, “General History of Travel” by Prevost Laharpe in twenty-three parts, works by Engel and Dugald, extracts and copies of all journals of Russian voyages in the Eastern Ocean from 1724 to 1779, atlases and maps, including the “General Map Presenting Convenient Ways to Increase Russian Trade and Navigation in the Pacific and Southern Oceans,” composed by Soymonov.

The expedition was prepared very carefully. A month after the decree, on April 17, the crews of the ships were assembled, all the officers moved to Kronstadt. The ships were raised onto the stocks, work on them was in full swing until dark. Products were delivered to the ships: cabbage, 200 poods each of salted sorrel, 20 poods of dried horseradish, 25 poods of onions and garlic. From Arkhangelsk, 600 pounds of cloudberries were delivered by special order, 30 barrels of sugar molasses, more than 1000 buckets of sbiten, 888 buckets of double beer, etc. were prepared. It was decided to purchase meat, butter, vinegar, and cheese in England. In addition to double uniform ammunition, the lower ranks and servants were entitled to twelve shirts and ten pairs of stockings (eight wool and two thread).

“To establish the Russian right to everything hitherto made by Russian navigators, or to newly made discoveries,” 200 cast-iron coats of arms were made, which were ordered to be fixed on large pillars or “along the cliffs, hollowing out a nest,” 1,700 gold, silver and cast-iron medals with inscriptions in Russian and Latin, which should have been buried in “decent places.”

The expedition was well armed: 90 cannons, 197 Jaeger rifles, 61 hunting rifles, 24 rifles, 61 blunderbuss, 61 pistols and 40 officer swords. The use of weapons was allowed only to protect Russian rights, but not against the natives of the newly acquired lands: “... the first effort should be to sow in them a good understanding of the Russians... You are completely forbidden to use not only violence, but even for any sides brutal acts of revenge.”

But in relation to foreign newcomers, it was prescribed to force them “by right of the first discovery of places belonging to the Russian state, to leave as soon as possible and henceforth not to think about settlements, nor about trading, nor about navigation; and if there are any fortifications or settlements, then you have the right to destroy, and tear down and destroy signs and coats of arms. You should do the same with the ships of these aliens, in those waters, harbors or islands you meet capable of similar attempts, forcing them to leave from there. In case of resistance, or, even more so, strengthening, we will use the force of arms, since your ships are so sufficiently armed at this time.”

On October 4, 1787, the ships of the Mulovsky expedition, in full readiness to sail, lined up in the Kronstadt roadstead. The Russian minister-ambassador in England had already ordered pilots who were waiting for the squadron in Copenhagen to escort it to Portsmouth.

But an urgent dispatch from Constantinople about the beginning of the war with Turkey crossed out all plans and efforts. The highest order followed: “The expedition being prepared for a long journey under the command of the fleet of Captain Mulovsky, due to present circumstances, must be postponed, and both the officers, sailors and other people appointed for this squadron, as well as the ships and various supplies prepared for it, must be included in the number of that part.” our fleet, which, according to our decree dated the 20th of this month of the Admiralty Board, must be sent to the Mediterranean Sea.”

But Mulovsky did not go to the Mediterranean Sea either: the war with Sweden began, and he was appointed commander of the frigate Mstislav, where the young midshipman Ivan Kruzenshtern served under his command, who was destined to lead the first Russian circumnavigation fifteen years later. Mulovsky distinguished himself in the famous Battle of Hogland, for which on April 14, 1789 he was promoted to captain of the brigadier rank. Kireyevsky and Trubetskoy received the same rank during the Russian-Swedish war. Three months later, on July 18, 1789, Mulovsky died in the battle off the island of Öland. His death and the outbreak of the French Revolution changed the situation dramatically. The resumption of circumnavigation was forgotten for a whole decade.

The first Russian circumnavigation under the command of Ivan Fedorovich (Adam-Johann-Friedrich) Krusenstern (1803–1806)

The organization of the first Russian circumnavigation that finally took place is associated with the name of Ivan Fedorovich (Adam-Johann-Friedrich) Krusenstern. In 1788, when “due to a lack of officers” it was decided to release early the midshipmen of the Naval Corps who had gone to sea at least once, Kruzenshtern and his friend Yuri Lisyansky ended up serving in the Baltic. Taking advantage of the fact that Kruzenshtern served on the frigate Mstislav under the command of G.I. Mulovsky, they turned to him with a request to allow them to take part in a circumnavigation after the end of the war and received consent. After the death of Mulovsky, they began to forget about swimming, but Kruzenshtern and Lisyansky continued to dream about it. As part of a group of Russian naval officers, they were sent to England in 1793 to familiarize themselves with the experience of foreign fleets and gain practical skills in sailing across the ocean. Kruzenshern spent about a year in India, sailed to Canton, and lived for six months in Macau, where he became acquainted with the state of trade in the Pacific Ocean. He drew attention to the fact that foreigners brought furs to Canton by sea, while Russian furs were delivered by land.

During the absence of Krusenstern and Lisyansky in Russia, the American United Company arose in 1797, which in 1799 was renamed the Russian-American Company (RAC). The imperial family was also a shareholder of the RAC. Therefore, the company received a monopoly right to exploit the wealth of Russian possessions on the Pacific coast, trade with neighboring countries, build fortifications, maintain military forces, and build a fleet. The government entrusted it with the task of further expanding and strengthening Russian possessions in the Pacific Ocean. But the main problem of the RAC was the difficulties in delivering cargo and goods to Kamchatka and Russian America. The land route through Siberia took up to two years and was associated with high costs. Cargoes often arrived spoiled, products were incredibly expensive, and equipment for ships (ropes, anchors, etc.) had to be divided into parts, and spliced ​​and connected on site. Valuable furs mined on the Aleutian Islands often arrived in St. Petersburg spoiled and were sold at a loss. Trade with China, where there was a great demand for furs, went through Kyakhta, where furs came from Russian America through Petropavlovsk, Okhotsk, Yakutsk. In terms of quality, the furs brought to Asian markets in this way were inferior to the furs delivered to Canton and Macau by American and English ships in an immeasurably shorter time.

Upon returning to Russia, Kruzenshtern submitted two memos to Paul I justifying the need to organize circumnavigations. Kruzenshtern also proposed a new procedure for training naval personnel for merchant ships. To the six hundred cadets of the Naval Corps, he proposed adding another hundred people from other classes, mainly from ship's cabin boys, who would study together with the noble cadets, but would be assigned to serve on commercial ships. The project was not accepted.

With the coming to power of Alexander I in 1801, the leadership of the Commerce Collegium and the Naval Ministry (formerly the Admiralty Collegium) changed. On January 1, 1802, Kruzenshtern sent a letter to the vice-president of the Admiralty Collegium, N. S. Mordvinov. In it, he proposed his plan for circumnavigating the world. Kruzenshtern showed measures to improve the position of Russian trade on the international market, protect Russian possessions in North America, and provide them and the Russian Far East with everything necessary. Much attention in this letter is paid to the need to improve the situation of the residents of Kamchatka. Krusenstern’s letter was also sent to the Minister of Commerce and Director of Water Communications and the Commission on the Construction of Roads in Russia, Count Nikolai Petrovich Rumyantsev. The head of the RAC, Nikolai Petrovich Rezanov, also became interested in the project. Rezanov's petition was supported by Mordvinov and Rumyantsev.

In July 1802, it was decided to send two ships on a circumnavigation of the world. The official purpose of the expedition was to deliver the Russian embassy to Japan, headed by N.P. Rezanov. The costs of organizing this voyage were covered jointly by the RAC and the government. I. F. Krusenstern was appointed head of the expedition on August 7, 1802. Its main tasks were determined: delivery of the first Russian embassy to Japan; delivery of provisions and equipment to Petropavlovsk and Novo-Arkhangelsk; geographical surveys along the route; inventory of Sakhalin, the estuary and the mouth of the Amur.

I. F. Kruzenshtern believed that a successful voyage would raise Russia’s authority in the world. But the new head of the Maritime Ministry, P.V. Chichagov, did not believe in the success of the expedition and proposed sailing on foreign ships with hired foreign sailors. He ensured that the ships of the expedition were purchased in England, and not built in Russian shipyards, as Kruzenshtern and Lisyansky proposed. To purchase the ships, Lisyansky was sent to England; for 17 thousand pounds he purchased two sloops with a displacement of 450 and 370 tons and spent another 5 thousand on their repairs. In June 1803, the ships arrived in Russia.

Departure

And now the historical moment has come. On July 26, 1803, the sloop “Nadezhda” and “Neva” left Kronstadt under the general leadership of I. F. Kruzenshern. They were supposed to go around South America and reach the Hawaiian Islands. Then their paths diverged for a while. The mission of “Nadezhda” under the command of Kruzenshtern included delivering cargo to Peter and Paul Harbor and then sending N.P. Rezanov’s mission to Japan, as well as exploring Sakhalin. "Neva" under the leadership of Yu. F. Lisyansky was supposed to go with cargo to Russian America. The arrival of a warship here was supposed to demonstrate the determination of the Russian government to protect the acquisitions of many generations of its sailors, merchants and industrialists. Then both ships were to be loaded with furs and set off for Canton, from where they, having passed the Indian Ocean and rounded Africa, were to return to Kronstadt and then complete their circumnavigation. This plan was completely carried out.

Crews

The commanders of both ships put a lot of effort into turning the long voyage into a school for officers and sailors. Among the officers of the Nadezhda there were many experienced sailors who later glorified the Russian fleet: the future admirals Makar Ivanovich Ratmanov and the discoverer of Antarctica Thaddeus Faddeevich Belingshausen, the future leader of two circumnavigations around the world (1815–1818 and 1823–1826) Otto Evstafievich Kotzebue and his brother Moritz Kotzebue, Fyodor Romberg, Pyotr Golovachev, Ermolai Levenshtern, Philip Kamenshchikov, Vasily Spolokhov, artillery officer Alexey Raevsky and others. In addition to them, the Nadezhda crew included Dr. Karl Espenberg, his assistant Ivan Sidgam, astronomer I. K. Horner, naturalists Wilhelm Tilesius von Tilenau, Georg Langsdorff. The retinue of Chamberlain N.P. Rezanov included Major Ermolai Frederici, Count Fyodor Tolstoy, court councilor Fyodor Fos, painter Stepan Kurlyandtsev, physician and botanist Brinkin.

On the Neva were officers Pavel Arbuzov, Pyotr Povalishin, Fyodor Kovedyaev, Vasily Berkh (later a historian of the Russian fleet), Danilo Kalinin, Fedul Maltsev, Dr. Moritz Liebend, his assistant Alexey Mutovkin, RAC clerk Nikolai Korobitsyn and others. A total of 129 people took part in the voyage. Kruzenshtern, who sailed for six years on English ships, notes: “I was advised to accept several foreign sailors, but knowing the superior properties of Russian ones, which I even prefer to English ones, I did not agree to follow this advice.”

Academician Krusenstern

Shortly before leaving, on April 25, 1803, Kruzenshtern was elected corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences. Prominent scientists of the Academy took part in the development of instructions on various branches of scientific research. The ships were equipped with the best nautical instruments and navigation aids for those times, and the latest scientific instruments.

"Nadezhda" in Kamchatka...

Having rounded Cape Horn, the ships separated. After conducting research in the Pacific Ocean, “Nadezhda” arrived in Petropavlovsk on July 3, 1804, and “Neva” arrived in Pavlovsk harbor on Kodiak Island on July 1.

The stay in Petropavlovsk was prolonged: they were waiting for the head of Kamchatka, Major General P.I. Koshelev, who was in Nizhnekamchatsk. Petropavlovsk commandant Major Krupsky provided the crew with all possible assistance. “The ship was immediately un-equipped, and everything was taken to the shore, from which we stood no further than fifty fathoms. Everything belonging to the ship's equipment required either correction or change during such a long voyage. Supplies and goods loaded in Kronstadt for Kamchatka were also unloaded,” writes Krusenstern. Finally, General Koshelev arrived from Nizhnekamchatsk with his adjutant, his younger brother Lieutenant Koshelev, Captain Fedorov and sixty soldiers. In Petropavlovsk, changes occurred in the composition of N.P. Rezanov’s embassy to Japan. Lieutenant Tolstoy, Doctor Brinkin and the painter Kurlyandtsev went to St. Petersburg by land. The embassy included the captain of the Kamchatka garrison battalion Fedorov, lieutenant Koshelev and eight soldiers. The Japanese Kiselev, the interpreter (translator) of the embassy, ​​and the “wild Frenchman” Joseph Kabrit, whom the Russians found on the island of Nukagiwa in the Pacific Ocean, remained in Kamchatka.

...And in Japan

After repairs and replenishment of supplies, “Nadezhda” on August 27, 1804 set off with the embassy of N.P. Rezanov to Japan, where it remained in the port of Nagasaki for more than six months. On April 5, 1805, the Nadezhda left Nagasaki. On the way to Kamchatka, she described the southern and eastern coasts of Sakhalin. On May 23, 1805, “Nadezhda” again arrived in Petropavlovsk, where N.P. Rezanov and his retinue left the ship and on the RAC ship “St. Maria" went to Russian America to Kodiak Island. The head of Kamchatka, P.I. Koshelev, reported the results of Rezanov’s voyage to Japan to the Siberian governor Selifontov.

From June 23 to August 19, Krusenstern sailed in the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, off the coast of Sakhalin, in the Sakhalin Bay, where he carried out hydrographic work and, in particular, studied the Amur River estuary - he was engaged in solving the “Amur issue”. On September 23, 1805, “Nadezhda” finally left Kamchatka and with a load of furs went to Macau, where it was supposed to meet with “Neva” and, loaded with tea, return to Kronstadt. They left Macau on January 30, 1806, but the ships were separated at the Cape of Good Hope. The Neva arrived in Kronstadt on July 22, and the Nadezhda on August 7, 1806. Thus ended the first circumnavigation of Russian sailors.

Geographical discoveries (and misconceptions)

It was marked by significant scientific results. Both ships carried out continuous meteorological and oceanological observations. Krusenstern described: the southern shores of the islands of Nukagiwa and Kyushu, the Van Diemen Strait, the islands of Tsushima, Goto and a number of others adjacent to Japan, the northwestern shores of the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido, as well as the entrance to the Sangar Strait. Sakhalin was put on the map along almost its entire length. But Krusenstern failed to complete his research in the Amur estuary, and he made the wrong conclusion about the peninsular position of Sakhalin, prolonging the erroneous conclusion of La Perouse and Broughton for forty-four years. Only in 1849 G.I. Nevelskoy established that Sakhalin is an island.

Conclusion

Kruzenshtern left an excellent description of his voyage, the first part of which was published in 1809, and the second in 1810. It was soon republished in England, France, Italy, Holland, Denmark, Sweden and Germany. The description of the trip was accompanied by an atlas of maps and drawings, among which there was a “Map of the northwestern part of the Great Ocean” and “Map of the Kuril Islands.” They made a significant contribution to the study of the geography of the North Pacific Ocean. Among the drawings made by Tilesius and Gorner are views of Peter and Paul Harbor, Nagasaki and other places.

At the end of the voyage, Krusenstern received many honors and awards. So, in honor of the first Russian circumnavigation of the world, a medal with his image was knocked out. In 1805, Kruzenshtern was awarded the Order of St. Anna and St. Vladimir, third degree, received the rank of captain of the 2nd rank and a pension of 3,000 rubles per year. Until 1811, Kruzenshern was engaged in preparing and publishing a description of his journey, reports and calculations on the expedition. Officially he was in 1807–1809. was registered at the St. Petersburg port. In 1808 he became an honorary member of the Admiralty Department, on March 1, 1809 he was promoted to captain of the 1st rank and appointed commander of the ship "Grace" in Kronstadt.

In 1811, Kruzenshtern began serving in the Naval Cadet Corps as a class inspector. Here he served intermittently until 1841, becoming its director. On February 14, 1819, he was promoted to captain-commander, in 1823 he was appointed an indispensable member of the Admiralty Department, and on August 9, 1824 he became a member of the Main Board of Schools. On January 8, 1826, with the rank of rear admiral, Kruzenshtern was appointed assistant director of the Naval Cadet Corps, and on October 14 of the same year he became its director and held this post for fifteen years. He founded a library and a museum, created officer classes for further training of the most capable midshipmen, who graduated with honors from the corps (later these classes were transformed into the Naval Academy). In 1827, he became an indispensable member of the Scientific Committee of the Naval Staff and a member of the Admiralty Council, in 1829 he was promoted to vice admiral, and in 1841 he became a full admiral.

Through the mountains to the sea with a light backpack. Route 30 passes through the famous Fisht - this is one of the most grandiose and significant natural monuments of Russia, the highest mountains closest to Moscow. Tourists travel lightly through all the landscape and climatic zones of the country from the foothills to the subtropics, spending the night in shelters.

Trekking in Crimea - route 22

From Bakhchisarai to Yalta - there is no such density of tourist sites as in the Bakhchisarai region anywhere in the world! Mountains and the sea, rare landscapes and cave cities, lakes and waterfalls, secrets of nature and historical mysteries, discoveries and the spirit of adventure await you... Mountain tourism here is not at all difficult, but any trail will surprise you.

Adygya, Crimea. Mountains, waterfalls, herbs of alpine meadows, healing mountain air, absolute silence, snowfields in the middle of summer, the murmur of mountain streams and rivers, stunning landscapes, songs around the fires, the spirit of romance and adventure, the wind of freedom await you! And at the end of the route are the gentle waves of the Black Sea.

Introduction

The 19th century was the time of the largest geographical discoveries made by Russian explorers. Continuing the traditions of their predecessors - explorers and travelers of the 17th-18th centuries, they enriched Russians’ ideas about the world around them and contributed to the development of new territories that became part of the empire. For the first time, Russia realized an old dream: its ships entered the World Ocean.

The purpose of my work is to study and determine the contribution to the development of geography - works, expeditions, studies of Russian voyages around the world.

The first Russian trip around the world I.F. Krusenstern and Yu.F. Lisyansky

In 1803, at the direction of Alexander I, an expedition was undertaken on the ships Nadezhda and Neva to explore the northern part of the Pacific Ocean. This was the first Russian round-the-world expedition, which lasted 3 years. It was headed by Ivan Fedorovich Kruzenshtern, the largest navigator and geographer of the 19th century.

Small ships were purchased from Great Britain. Before sailing, Emperor Alexander I personally inspected the sloops purchased from the British in Kronstadt. The Emperor allowed military flags to be raised on both ships and the costs of maintaining one were taken at his own expense, while the other was paid for by the Russian-American Company and one of the main inspirers of the expedition, Count N.P. Rumyantsev.

The first half of the voyage (from Kronstadt to Petropavlovsk) was marked by the eccentric behavior of Tolstoy the American (who had to be landed in Kamchatka) and the conflicts of I.F. Kruzenshtern with N.P. Rezanov, who was sent by Emperor Alexander I as the first Russian envoy to Japan to establish trade between the countries.

The expedition left Kronstadt on July 26 (August 7), 1803. She called at Copenhagen and on September 28 arrived in Falmouth, where she had to once again caulk the entire underwater part of both ships. Only on October 5, the expedition went further to the south and entered the island of Tenerife; On November 14, at 24° 20" west longitude, she crossed the equator. The Russian flag flew for the first time in the southern hemisphere, which was celebrated with great solemnity.

Having reached 20° south latitude, Kruzenshtern searched in vain for Ascension Island, the position of which was very confusing. Repairing the ship Neva forced the expedition to stay off the Brazilian coast from December 9 to January 23, 1804. From here, the voyage of both ships was at first very successful: on February 20 they rounded Cape Horn; but they were soon met by strong winds with hail, snow and fog. The ships separated and on April 24 Kruzenshtern alone reached the Marquesas Islands. Here he determined the position of the islands of Fetuga and Ouaguga, then entered the port of Anna Maria on the island of Nukagiwa. On April 28, the ship Neva also arrived there.

On the island of Nukagiwa, Kruzenshtern discovered and described an excellent harbor, which he called the port of Chichagova. On May 4, the expedition left the Washington Islands and on May 13, at 146° west longitude, again crossed the equator towards the north; On May 26, the Hawaiian (Sandwich) Islands appeared, where the ships separated: “Nadezhda” headed for Kamchatka and further to Japan, and “Neva” headed to explore Alaska, where it took part in the Battle of Arkhangelsk (Battle of Sitka).

Taking from the ruler of the Kamchatka region P.I. Kosheleva guard of honor (2 officers, a drummer, 5 soldiers) for the ambassador, "Nadezhda" headed south, arriving at the Japanese port of Dejima near the city of Nagasaki on September 26, 1804. The Japanese forbade entry into the harbor, and Kruzenshtern dropped anchor in the bay. The embassy lasted six months, after which everyone returned back to Petropavlovsk. Kruzenshtern was awarded the Order of St. Anne, II degree, and Rezanov, as having completed the diplomatic mission entrusted to him, was released from further participation in the first round-the-world expedition.

"Neva" and "Nadezhda" returned to St. Petersburg on different routes. In 1805, their paths crossed in the port of Macau in southern China. "Neva" after entering Hawaii provided assistance to the Russian-American company led by A.A. Baranov in the reconquest of the Mikhailovsky Fortress from the natives. After an inventory of the surrounding islands and other research, the Neva carried goods to Canton, but on October 3 it ran aground in the middle of the ocean. Lisyansky ordered the rostras and carronades to be thrown into the water, but then a squall landed the ship on a reef. To continue sailing, the team had to throw even such necessary items as anchors into the sea. The item was subsequently picked up. On the way to China, the coral island of Lisyansky was discovered. "Neva" returned to Kronstadt before "Nadezhda" (July 22).

Leaving the shores of Japan, “Nadezhda” went north along the Sea of ​​Japan, almost completely unknown to Europeans. On the way, Kruzenshtern determined the position of a number of islands. He passed the La Perouse Strait between Iesso and Sakhalin, described Aniva Bay, located on the southern side of Sakhalin, the eastern coast and Terpeniya Bay, which he left on May 13. The huge amount of ice he encountered the next day at 48° latitude prevented him from continuing his voyage to the north, and he descended to the Kuril Islands. Here, on May 18, he discovered 4 stone islands, which he called “Stone Traps”; near them he encountered such a strong current that, with a fresh wind and a speed of eight knots, the Nadezhda ship not only did not move forward, but was carried onto an underwater reef.

With difficulty, having avoided trouble here, on May 20 Kruzenshtern passed through the strait between the islands of Onnekotan and Haramukotan, and on May 24 he again arrived at the port of Peter and Paul. On June 23 he went to Sakhalin. To complete the description of its shores, 29 passed the Kuril Islands, the strait between Raukoke and Mataua, which he named Nadezhda. On July 3, he arrived at Cape Terpeniya. Exploring the shores of Sakhalin, he walked around the northern tip of the island, descended between it and the coast of the mainland to a latitude of 53 ° 30 "and in this place on August 1 found fresh water, from which he concluded that the mouth of the Amur River was not far, but due to the rapidly decreasing depth, he could go I didn’t dare go ahead.

Sloop "Nadezhda".

The next day he anchored in a bay, which he called the Bay of Hope; On August 4 he went back to Kamchatka, where repairs to the ship and replenishment of supplies delayed him until September 23. When leaving Avachinskaya Bay, due to fog and snow, the ship almost ran aground. On the way to China, he searched in vain for the islands shown on old Spanish maps, withstood several storms and arrived in Macau on November 15. On November 21, when the Nadezhda was completely ready to go to sea, the ship Neva arrived with a rich cargo of fur goods and stopped in Whampoa, where the ship Nadezhda also went. At the beginning of January 1806, the expedition completed its trading business, but was detained by the Chinese port authorities for no particular reason, and only on January 28 did the Russian ships leave the Chinese shores.

Coming out of the Sunda Strait, the ship "Nadezhda" again only thanks to the rising wind managed to cope with the current into which it fell and which carried it to the reefs. On April 3, Nadezhda separated from Neva; After 4 days, Kruzenshtern rounded the Cape of Good Hope and on April 22 arrived at St. Helena Island, having traveled from Macau in 79 days. After 4 days, Kruzenshtern left and on May 9 again crossed the equator at 22° west longitude.

Even on the island of St. Helena, news was received about the war between Russia and France, and therefore Krusenstern decided to go around Scotland; On July 5, he passed between the islands of Fair Isle and Mainland of the Shetland archipelago and, having sailed for 86 days, arrived on July 21 in Copenhagen, and on August 5 (17), 1806 in Kronstadt, completing the entire journey in 3 years 12 days. During the entire voyage on the Nadezhda ship there was not a single death, and there were very few sick people, while on other ships then many people died during inland voyages.

Emperor Alexander I awarded Krusenstern and his subordinates. All officers received the following ranks, commanders of the Order of St. Vladimir 3rd degree and 3000 rubles each, lieutenants 1000 each, and midshipmen 800 rubles for life pension. Lower ranks, if desired, were dismissed and awarded a pension of 50 to 75 rubles. By the highest order, a special medal was knocked out for all participants in this first trip around the world.

A description of this expedition was printed at the expense of the imperial office under the title “Journey around the world in 1803, 1804, 1805 and 1806 on the ships “Nadezhda” and “Neva”, under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Kruzenshtern,” in 3 volumes, with an atlas of 104 maps and engraved paintings, St. Petersburg, 1809

This work has been translated into English, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Italian and Danish. Republished in 2007.

Kruzenshtern's journey constituted an era in the history of the Russian fleet, enriching geography and natural sciences with much information about countries that were little known. This voyage is an important milestone in the history of Russia, in the development of its fleet; it made a significant contribution to the study of the world ocean and many branches of the natural and human sciences.

From this time on, a continuous series of Russian trips around the world began; The management of Kamchatka has changed for the better in many ways. Of the officers who were with Kruzenshtern, many later served with honor in the Russian fleet, and cadet Otto Kotzebue was himself later the commander of a ship that sailed around the world.

During the voyage, more than a thousand kilometers of the coast of Sakhalin Island were mapped for the first time. The participants of the trip left many interesting observations not only about the Far East, but also about other areas through which they sailed. The commander of the Neva, Yuri Fedorovich Lisyansky, discovered one of the islands of the Hawaiian archipelago, named after him. A lot of data was collected by the expedition members about the Aleutian Islands and Alaska, the islands of the Pacific and Arctic oceans.

The results of the observations were presented in a report by the Academy of Sciences. They turned out to be so significant that I.F. Krusenstern was awarded the title of academician. His materials were the basis for what was published in the early 20s. "Atlas of the South Seas". In 1845, Admiral Krusenstern became one of the founding members of the Russian Geographical Society. He trained a whole galaxy of Russian sailors and explorers.

Expedition route.

Kronstadt (Russia) - Copenhagen (Denmark) - Falmouth (Great Britain) - Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) - Florianopolis (Brazil, Portugal) - Easter Island - Nukuhiva (Marquesas Islands, France) -- Honolulu (Hawaii Islands) -- Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky (Russia) -- Nagasaki (Japan) -- Hakodate (Hokkaido Island, Japan) -- Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (Sakhalin Island, Russia) -- Sitka (Alaska, Russia) - Kodiak (Alaska, Russia) - Guangzhou (China) - Macau (Portugal) - St. Helena Island (UK) - Corvo and Flores Islands (Azores, Portugal) - Portsmouth (Great Britain) - Kronstadt (Russia).

By the beginning of the 19th century. Russian possessions in the north-west of America occupied vast areas of Alaska. Russian settlements on the western coast of the continent reached the place where San Francisco is now located.

The journey overland from the center of Russia to its Far Eastern outskirts and especially to Russian America was long and difficult. All necessary cargo was then sent along rivers and by horse-drawn cart through the vast expanses of Siberia to Okhotsk, and then by sea on ships. Transporting goods was very expensive. Suffice it to say that a pound of rye flour, which cost 40-50 kopecks in the European part of Russia, brought to Alaska, was valued at 8 rubles.

The difficulty of communication also complicated the management of these territories. It happened that a government order reached Kamchatka or Alaska when it had already lost its force and was canceled in the center as outdated.

There was an urgent need to establish regular flights of Russian ships from the Baltic ports to Russian ports on the Pacific Ocean. And so, in 1802, the Naval Ministry accepted the proposal of the captain-lieutenant of the Russian fleet, Ivan Fedorovich Kruzenshtern, to organize the first Russian round-the-world expedition.

Kruzenshtern's whole life was connected with the sea and naval service. He studied at the Naval Cadet Corps. During the Russian-Swedish war, the young man was assigned “as a midshipman” to the ship “Mstislav”. Soon Krusenstern was promoted to midshipman, and then to lieutenant for his courage in taking an enemy ship. In 1793, the capable officer was sent to England among the “excellent young officers.”

During his long voyages on English ships, Ivan Fedorovich visited the coast of North America, India and China.

Appointed head of the round-the-world expedition, Kruzenshtern took as his assistant an old friend with whom he studied in the Naval Corps, Yuri Fedorovich Lisyansky.

He was also an experienced and educated naval officer. He began studying in early childhood in the Naval Cadet Corps. Lisyansky participated in all the main battles with the Swedish fleet and was promoted to lieutenant. Like Krusenstern, Lisyansky was sent to England to serve in the navy. On English ships he sailed off the coasts of Africa, Asia and America. Lisyansky returned to his homeland four years later.

For the round-the-world expedition, two small ships with a displacement of 450 and 370 tons were purchased. The larger of them, which was led by Kruzenshtern himself, was called “Nadezhda”, and the smaller one, commanded by Lisyansky, was called “Neva”.

The Maritime Ministry advised Kruzenshtern to recruit a crew for such a long and responsible voyage from experienced foreign sailors. But Ivan Fedorovich, highly appreciating the Russian sailors, rejected this proposal.

The youngest participants in the voyage were midshipman F. F. Bellingshausen, who later became famous for the discovery of Antarctica, and O. E. Kotzebue, the future circumnavigator.

The Russian ambassador N.P. Rezanov was sent to Japan on the Nadezhda to establish diplomatic ties with this country.

The expedition had important scientific tasks: to explore the Far Eastern coast of Russia, check and clarify sea charts, and conduct oceanographic observations along the way (measurement of sea depths, water temperature, etc.).

In August 1803, Nadezhda and Neva left Kronstadt. The expedition was accompanied by all residents of the city and the crews of Russian and foreign ships stationed in the roadstead. Such a solemn farewell was not accidental: Russian sailors were setting off on a trip around the world for the first time.

Ten days later the ships reached Copenhagen. Here, foreign scientists were accepted into the expedition: an astronomer, two naturalists and a doctor of medicine.

On their way to England, Nadezhda and Neva encountered a severe storm, during which several foreign ships were lost. But the Russian sailors endured this baptism of fire with honor.

Russian ships, having visited England, entered the vast Atlantic Ocean.

The transition to the Southern Hemisphere was celebrated by raising the flag and firing a cannon salute. The entire crew put on full dress uniform. The sailors staged a performance: the mythical sea king Neptune greeted the sailors who arrived in his domain. Sailor Pavel Kurganov, tying a beard of tow, with a crown on his head and a trident in his hands, portrayed a sea king. He ordered that those who crossed the equator for the first time be subjected to sea baptism. With cheerful laughter and jokes, the sailors bathed all participants in the voyage, except for the bosses - Kruzenshtern and Lisyansky, who had previously sailed in the Southern Hemisphere.

This maritime holiday has become traditional in the Russian fleet since the voyage of the Nadezhda and Neva.

Approaching the shores of Brazil, Russian sailors updated the map.

At the end of December 1803, “Nadezhda” and “Neva” entered the harbor of St. Catherine Island. This small island is separated from the mainland of South America by a narrow strait.

Russian sailors saw a lot of unusual things. The island was covered with luxurious tropical vegetation. Here January is the hottest month.

In the forest, sailors caught unprecedented colorful parrots, monkeys, and once even brought an alligator onto the ship Neva. Naturalists collected rich zoological and botanical collections in the tropical forests.

The ships remained in the harbor for six weeks: two damaged masts were replaced on the Neva.

The expedition then headed to the tip of South America, rounded Cape Horn and entered the waters of the Pacific Ocean.

The weather was cloudy. A strong wind blew. It was raining lightly. There were often thick fogs over the sea. Soon the ships lost sight of each other.

"Neva", as agreed earlier, went to Easter Island, and "Nadezhda", changing the route, went to the group of Marquesas Islands.

In mid-May, Nadezhda approached Nukuhiva Island. It was a fertile corner of the earth, covered with coconut palms; Breadfruit grew in the forests.

Three days later, the Neva arrived at the island. Lisyansky told Kruzenshtern that during a three-day stay at Easter Island, he clarified the coordinates of this island and drew up a map of it.

The expedition stayed at Nukuhiva Island for ten days. The most friendly relations were established with the local residents. The islanders helped Russian sailors stock up on fresh water and various products. Krusenstern and Lisyansky made the first geographical description of the island.

Lisyansky compiled a short dictionary of the language of the islanders. He was helped in this by the Englishman Roberts and the Frenchman Carby, shipwrecked sailors; Having lived on the island for many years, they knew perfectly well the customs, life and language of the local residents.

Naturalists collected rich collections, which included many new plants unknown to European scientists. Members of the expedition made sketches of the area, and one of them recorded songs of the island's inhabitants.

At the end of May, the ships crossed the equator for the second time - this time from south to north.

“Nadezhda” went from the Hawaiian Islands to the shores of Kamchatka, and “Neva” - to Alaska.

In mid-July, Nadezhda anchored off Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The ship remained in this harbor for six weeks. During this time, goods were unloaded, provisions were replenished and the ship was put in order.

Fulfilling the task of the Russian government to visit Japan, the ship headed south. The voyage took place in difficult conditions: there was fog and heavy rain. Not far from Japan, the Nadezhda was caught in a terrible typhoon.

“You must have the gift of poetry in order to vividly describe its fury,” Kruzenshtern later wrote.

And in the hour of great danger, when, in the words of the head of the expedition, “the ship was left without sails at the mercy of the fierce waves, which, as it seemed, threatened to engulf it every minute,” the entire crew courageously helped to lead the ship out of the area where the hurricane was raging.

In October, Nadezhda arrived at the Japanese port of Nagasaki. Local authorities did not greet the Russian sailors in a friendly manner. First of all, they invited the sailors to surrender their cannons and, in general, all firearms and gunpowder. Only when this condition was met was the ship allowed to enter the harbor. I had to stay here for more than six months. The Japanese forbade sailors not only to go ashore, but even to travel around the bay. The Russian ship was surrounded by patrol boats.

During this period, Japan lived in isolation, isolated from the whole world and did not want to have any relations with other states. She traded only with China and a group of Dutch merchants. The Russian envoy failed to reach an agreement with the Japanese government on the establishment of diplomatic relations.

From the Japanese Emperor, the Russian envoy Rezanov was given a letter stating that Russian ships were forbidden to even approach the shores of Japan.

Returning from Nagasaki to Kamchatka, Kruzenshtern navigated the ship through the Sea of ​​Japan, then little known to Europeans. On the way, he explored and described the island of Tsushima, as well as the strait between this island and Japan. In addition, navigators explored the entire coastline of the island of Hokkaido, which was shown as a dotted line on maps of that time.

The identification of astronomical points and cartographic work of Russian sailors off the western coast of Japan made it possible to create a map of these unknown places.

In the Kuril Islands group, Kruzenshtern discovered four rocks, near which the ship almost died. He called them "Rock Traps."

From the Kuril Islands "Nadezhda" went to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Having replenished the supply of water and provisions, Kruzenshtern also made a scientific voyage to the shores of Sakhalin. He described the eastern coast of Sakhalin and for the first time accurately mapped it.

When trying to pass between Sakhalin and the mainland, Kruzenshtern encountered an extensive shoal on the way. Here he came to the erroneous conclusion that Sakhalin is a peninsula and is connected to the mainland by an isthmus.

Only 44 years later this mistake was corrected by another Russian traveler - G.I. Nevelskoy.

In late autumn, Nadezhda arrived in Macau, a Portuguese colony near Canton (Guangzhou). The Neva arrived there at the beginning of December, which spent almost a year and a half - about seventeen months - on its independent voyage.

During this time, Lisyansky explored the nature of the Havana Islands, became acquainted with the way of life of the islanders, and visited the coast of Alaska and Kodiak Bay. With great joy and triumph, the Russian people in Alaska greeted the first ship from their homeland that had traveled such a long sea route from Kronstadt.

Just these days, on Sitkha Island (Baranova Island), the Indians, incited by the Americans and the British, attacked the Russian settlement. Lisyansky, together with the entire crew, had to come to the defense of his compatriots.

For more than a year, the Neva was off the coast of Alaska and performed security duty. Lisyansky, without wasting time, explored the islands of Sitkha, Kodiak and the American coast. He made a map of these bridges.

In September 1805, the Neva, loaded with valuable furs, departed from the shores of Russian America and headed to China.

To the west of the Hawaiian Islands, sailors began to notice floating algae, fish and birds appeared here - signs of nearby land, which at these latitudes was not listed on the map.

Lisyansky carefully steered the ship, and yet the Neva unexpectedly ran aground near an unknown island. It turned out to be uninhabited. There were many seals and birds on it, which were not at all afraid of people. At the insistence of the Neva’s crew, the island was named after the ship’s commander, Lisyansky, and the shoal on which the ship ran aground was named Nevskaya. The ship was safely refloated and arrived in China.

In February 1806, Nadezhda and Neva, loaded with various Chinese goods - tea, silk fabrics, porcelain, etc., left Canton (Guangzhou) on their way back.

The ships traveled together to the coast of South Africa. At the Cape of Good Hope, during the fog, they lost sight of each other.

Kruzenshtern rounded the Cape of Good Hope and arrived at St. Helena Island. Here he learned that Russia, in alliance with England and Austria, was at war with France. Fearing a meeting with French military vessels, Kruzenshtern took the ship away from the shores of Europe.

In August 1806, Nadezhda dropped anchor in the Kronstadt port. The Russian voyage around the world, which lasted three years and twelve days, ended successfully. Lisyansky was the first to greet the sailors on the Nadezhda ship: he brought the Neva to Kronstadt two weeks earlier.

The first circumnavigation of Russian sailors was a new page in the history of geographical science. Kruzenshtern and Lisyansky clarified the world map, added new islands to it and removed the non-existent lands marked there from the old maps. The collections collected by the expedition were of great scientific value.

During the voyage, observations were made of the temperature and density of water at different depths (up to 400 m), sea currents, etc. As a result of the journey, the sea route from Kronstadt to the shores of Russian America was mastered.

In honor of the first Russian circumnavigation of the world, a medal was struck with the inscription: “For a trip around the world. 1803-1806".

Kruzenshtern wrote a book about the expedition - “Journey around the world in 1803, 1804, 1805 and 1806 on the ships “Nadezhda” and “Neva”, with an atlas on 104 sheets. In addition, I. F. Kruzenshtern compiled an atlas of maps of the southern seas, which was the most accurate and complete at that time; it was used by sailors and geographers all over the world.

Lisyansky also described his voyage - in the book “Journey around the world in 1803, 1804, 1805 and 1806 on the ship “Neva”. Both books were translated into foreign languages ​​and published abroad. They are still read with interest.

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Russian travelers. Russia was becoming a great maritime power, and this put forward new tasks for domestic geographers. IN 1803-1806 was undertaken from Kronstadt to Alaska by ship "Hope" And "Neva". It was headed by Admiral Ivan Fedorovich Krusenstern (1770 - 1846). He commanded the ship "Hope". By ship "Neva" was commanded by captain Yuri Fedorovich Lisyansky (1773 - 1837). During the expedition, the islands of the Pacific Ocean, China, Japan, Sakhalin and Kamchatka were studied. Detailed maps of the explored places were compiled. Lisyansky, having independently traveled from the Hawaiian Islands to Alaska, collected rich material about the peoples of Oceania and North America.

Map. The first Russian round-the-world expedition

The attention of researchers around the world has long been attracted by the mysterious region around the South Pole. It was assumed that there was a vast Southern continent (names "Antarctica" was not in use then). English navigator J. Cook in the 70s of the 18th century. crossed the Antarctic Circle, encountered impassable ice and declared that sailing further south was impossible. They believed him, and for 45 years no one undertook a south polar expedition.

In 1819, Russia equipped an expedition on two sloops to the southern polar seas under the leadership of Thaddeus Faddeevich Bellingshausen (1778 - 1852). He commanded the sloop "East". Commander "Peaceful" was Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev (1788 - 1851). Bellingshausen took part in Krusenstern's voyage. Lazarev subsequently became famous as a combat admiral, who trained a whole galaxy of Russian naval commanders (Kornilov, Nakhimov, Istomin).

"East" And "Peaceful" were not adapted to polar conditions and differed greatly in seaworthiness. "Peaceful" was stronger and "East"- faster. It was only thanks to the great skill of the captains that the sloops never lost each other in conditions of stormy weather and poor visibility. Several times the ships found themselves on the verge of destruction.

But still Russian expedition managed to get to the South much further than Cook. January 16, 1820 "East" And "Peaceful" almost came close to the Antarctic coast (in the area of ​​​​the modern Bellingshausen ice shelf). Before them, as far as the eye could see, stretched a faintly hilly icy desert. Perhaps they guessed that this was the Southern Continent, and not solid ice. But the only way to obtain evidence was by landing on shore and traveling far into the desert. The sailors did not have this opportunity. Therefore, Bellingshausen, a very conscientious and accurate man, reported in a report that he had been seen "continent of ice". Subsequently, geographers wrote that Bellingshausen “saw the mainland, but did not recognize it as such”. And yet this date is considered the day of the discovery of Antarctica. After this, the island of Peter I and the coast of Alexander I were discovered. In 1821, the expedition returned to its homeland, having completed a complete voyage around the open continent.

Kostin V. "Vostok and Mirny off the coast of Antarctica", 1820

In 1811, Russian sailors led by captain Vasily Mikhailovich Golovkin (1776 - 1831) explored the Kuril Islands and were taken into Japanese captivity. Golovnin's notes about his three-year stay in Japan introduced Russian society to the life of this mysterious country. Golovnin's student Fyodor Petrovich Litke (1797 - 1882) explored the Arctic Ocean, the shores of Kamchatka, and South America. He founded the Russian Geographical Society, which played a major role in the development of geographical science.

Major geographical discoveries in the Russian Far East are associated with the name of Gennady Ivanovich Nevelsky (1814-1876). Rejecting the court career that was opening up to him, he achieved appointment as commander of military transport "Baikal". He is on it in 1848 - 1849. made a voyage from Kronstadt around Cape Horn to Kamchatka, and then led the Amur expedition. He discovered the mouth of the Amur, a strait between Sakhalin and the mainland, proving that Sakhalin is an island, not a peninsula.

Amur expedition of Nevelsky

Expeditions of Russian travelers, in addition to purely scientific results, were of great importance in the matter of mutual knowledge of peoples. In distant countries, local residents often learned about Russia for the first time from Russian travelers. In turn, the Russian people collected information about other countries and peoples.

Russian America

Russian America . Alaska was discovered in 1741 by the expedition of V. Bering and A. Chirikov. The first Russian settlements in the Aleutian Islands and Alaska appeared in the 18th century. In 1799, Siberian merchants engaged in fishing in Alaska united into the Russian-American Company, which was assigned a monopoly right to use the natural resources of this region. The company's board of directors was first located in Irkutsk and then moved to St. Petersburg. The main source of income for the company was the fur trade. For many years (until 1818), the main ruler of Russian America was A. A. Baranov, a native of the merchants of the city of Kargopol, Olonets province.

The Russian population of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands was small (in different years from 500 to 830 people). In total, about 10 thousand people lived in Russian America, mainly Aleuts, residents of the islands and coast of Alaska. They willingly became close to Russians, were baptized into the Orthodox faith, and adopted various crafts and clothing. Men wore jackets and frock coats, women wore calico dresses. The girls tied their hair with ribbons and dreamed of marrying a Russian.

The Indians who lived in the interior of Alaska were a different matter. They were hostile to the Russians, believing that it was they who brought previously unknown diseases to their country - smallpox and measles. In 1802, Indians from the Tlingit tribe ( "koloshi", as the Russians called them) attacked the Russian-Aleut settlement on the island. Sith, they burned everything and killed many of the inhabitants. Only in 1804 was the island recaptured. Baranov founded the Novo-Arkhangelsk fortress on it, which became the capital of Russian America. A church, a shipping dock, and workshops were built in Novo-Arkhangelsk. The library contains more than 1200 books.

After Baranov’s resignation, the position of chief ruler began to be occupied by naval officers with little experience in commercial matters. The fur wealth was gradually depleted. The company's financial affairs began to shake, and it began to receive government benefits. But geographical research has expanded. Especially in the deep areas, which were marked as a white spot on the maps.

The expedition of L. A. Zagoskin in 1842 - 1844 was of particular importance. Lavrenty Zagoskin, a Penza native, was the nephew of the famous writer M. Zagoskin. He outlined his impressions of the difficult and lengthy expedition in the book “Pedestrian inventory of part of Russian possessions in America”. Zagoskin described the basins of the main rivers of Alaska (Yukon and Kuskokwim) and collected information about the climate of these areas, their natural world, and the life of the local population, with whom he managed to establish friendly relations. Written vividly and talentedly, "Pedestrian inventory" combined scientific value and artistic merit.

I. E. Veniaminov spent about a quarter of a century in Russian America. Arriving in Novo-Arkhangelsk as a young missionary, he immediately began studying the Aleut language, and later wrote a textbook on its grammar. On about. Unalaska, where he lived for a long time, through his labors and care a church was built, a school and a hospital were opened. He regularly conducted meteorological and other field observations. When Veniaminov became a monk, he was named Innocent. Soon he became the bishop of Kamchatka, Kuril and Aleut.

In the 50s of the XIX century. The Russian government began to pay special attention to the study of the Amur region and the Ussuri region. Interest in Russian America has noticeably decreased. she miraculously escaped capture by the British. In fact, the distant colony was and remained unprotected. For the state treasury, devastated as a result of the war, the considerable annual payments to the Russian-American Company became a burden. We had to make a choice between the development of the Far East (Amur and Primorye) and Russian America. The issue was discussed for a long time, and in the end an agreement was concluded with the US government on the sale of Alaska for $7.2 million. On October 6, 1867, the Russian flag was lowered in Novo-Arkhangelsk and the American flag was raised. Russia peacefully left Alaska, leaving the results of its efforts to study and develop it for future generations of its residents.

Document: From the diary of F. F. Bellingshausen

January 10 (1821). ...At noon the wind moved to the east and became fresher. Unable to go south of the solid ice we encountered, we had to continue our journey, waiting for a favorable wind. Meanwhile, sea swallows gave us reason to conclude that there was a shore in the vicinity of this place.

At 3 o'clock in the afternoon we saw a black spot. When I looked through the pipe, I knew at first glance that I could see the shore. The sun's rays, emerging from the clouds, illuminated this place, and, to everyone's delight, everyone was convinced that they could see a coast covered with snow: only screes and rocks, on which the snow could not stay, turned black.

It is impossible to express in words the joy that appeared on everyone’s faces when they exclaimed: “Beach! Shore!" This delight was not surprising after a long, uniform voyage in continuous disastrous dangers, between ice, in snow, rain, slush and fog... The shore we found gave hope that there must certainly be other shores, for the existence of only one in such a vast expanse of water It seemed impossible to us.

11 January. Since midnight, the sky was covered with thick clouds, the air was filled with darkness, and the wind was fresh. We continued to follow the same course to the north in order to turn around and lie closer to the shore. As the morning continued, after the cloudiness that hovered over the coast cleared, and when the sun's rays illuminated it, we saw a high island stretching from N0 61° to S, covered with snow. At 5 o'clock in the afternoon, having approached a distance of 14 miles from the coast, we encountered solid ice, which prevented us from getting any closer; it was better to survey the coast and take something of curiosity and preservation worthy of the museum of the Admiralty Department. Having reached the ice with the sloop "Vostok", I drifted on another tack to wait for the sloop "Mirny", which was behind us. As the Mirny approached, we raised our flags: Lieutenant Lazarev congratulated me via telegraph on the acquisition of the island; On both sloops they put people on the shrouds and shouted a mutual “Hurray” three times. At this time, it was ordered to give the sailors a glass of punch. I called Lieutenant Lazarev to me, he told me that he saw all the ends of the coast clearly and clearly determined their position. The island was quite clearly visible, especially the lower parts, which are made up of steep rocky cliffs.

I named this island after the high name of the culprit behind the existence of the military fleet in Russia - the island.

In the history of the first half of the 19th century, a number of brilliant geographical studies are known. Among them, one of the most prominent places belongs to Russian trips around the world.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Russia occupied a leading place in organizing and conducting circumnavigation and ocean exploration.

The first voyage of Russian ships around the world under the command of captain-lieutenants I.F. Krusenstern and Yu.F. Lisyansky lasted three years, like most circumnavigations of that time. This journey in 1803 begins an entire era of remarkable Russian expeditions around the world.

Yu.F. Lisyansky received orders to go to England to purchase two ships intended for circumnavigation. Lisyansky bought these ships, Nadezhda and Neva, in London for 22,000 pounds sterling, which was almost the same amount in gold rubles at the exchange rate of that time.

The price for the purchase of "Nadezhda" and "Neva" was actually equal to 17,000 pounds sterling, but for corrections they had to pay an additional 5,000 pounds. The ship "Nadezhda" has already been three years old since its launch, and the "Neva" is only fifteen months old. "Neva" had a displacement of 350 tons, and "Nadezhda" - 450 tons.

In England, Lisyansky bought a number of sextants, lel-compasses, barometers, a hygrometer, several thermometers, one artificial magnet, chronometers by Arnold and Pettiwgton, and more. The chronometers were tested by academician Schubert. All other instruments were Troughton's work.

Astronomical and physical instruments were designed to observe longitudes and latitudes and orient the ship. Lisyansky took care to purchase a whole pharmacy of medicines and anti-scorbutic agents, since in those days scurvy was one of the most dangerous diseases during long voyages. Equipment for the expedition was also purchased from England, including comfortable, durable clothing for the team that was suitable for various climatic conditions. There was a spare set of underwear and dresses. Mattresses, pillows, sheets and blankets were ordered for each of the sailors. The ship's provisions were the best. The crackers prepared in St. Petersburg did not spoil for two whole years, just like solonia, which was salted with domestic salt by the merchant Oblomkov. The Nadezhda crew consisted of 58 people, and the Neva crew of 47. They were selected from volunteer sailors, of whom there were so many that everyone who wanted to participate in a trip around the world could be enough to staff several expeditions. It should be noted that none of the team members participated in long voyages, since in those days Russian ships did not descend south of the northern tropic. The task that faced the officers and crew of the expedition was not easy. They had to cross two oceans, go around the dangerous Cape Horn, famous for its storms, and rise to 60° N. sh., visit a number of little-studied coasts, where mariners could expect uncharted and undescribed pitfalls and other dangers. But the command of the expedition was so confident in the strength of its “officers and enlisted personnel” that they rejected the offer to take on board several foreign sailors familiar with the conditions of long voyages. Among the foreigners on the expedition were naturalists Tilesius von Tilenau, Langsdorff and astronomer Horner. Horner was of Swiss origin. He worked at the then famous Seeberg Observatory, whose director recommended him to Count Rumyantsev. The expedition was also accompanied by a painter from the Academy of Arts.

The artist and scientists were with the Russian envoy to Japan, N.P. Rezanov, and his retinue on board the large ship Nadezhda. "Nadezhda" was commanded by Krusenstern. Lisyansky was entrusted with command of the Neva. Although Krusenstern was listed as the commander of the Nadezhda and the head of the expedition at the Naval Ministry, in the instructions given by Alexander I to the Russian ambassador to Japan, N.P. Rezanov, he was called the main commander of the expedition. This dual position was the reason for the emergence of conflictual relationships between Rezanov and Krusenstern. Therefore, Kruzenshtern repeatedly submitted reports to the Directorate of the Russian-American Company, where he wrote that he was called upon by the highest order to command the expedition and that “it was entrusted to Rezanov” without his knowledge, to which he would never agree, that his position “does not consist only to watch the sails,” etc. Soon the relationship between Rezanov and Kruzenshtern became so tense that a riot occurred among the Nadezhda crew.

The Russian envoy to Japan, after a series of troubles and insults, was forced to retire to his cabin, from which he did not leave until his arrival in Petropavlovsk-on-Kamchatka. Here Rezanov turned to Major General Koshelev, a representative of the local administrative authorities. An investigation was ordered against Krusenstern, which took on an unfavorable character for him. Considering the situation, Kruzenshtern publicly apologized to Rezanov and asked Koshelev not to allow the investigation to proceed further. Only thanks to the kindness of Rezanov, who decided to drop the case, Kruzenshtern avoided major troubles that could have had fatal consequences for his career.

The above episode shows that the discipline on the Nadezhda ship, commanded by Kruzenshtern, was not up to par if such a high-ranking person vested with special powers as the Russian envoy to Japan could be subjected to a number of insults from the crew and the captain of the Nadezhda himself. It is probably no coincidence that the Nadezhda was in a very risky position several times during its voyage, while the Neva only once landed on a coral reef and, moreover, in a place where it could not be expected according to cards. All this leads to the assumption that the generally accepted idea of ​​Kruzenshtern’s leading role in the first Russian trip around the world does not correspond to reality.

Although the ships were supposed to make the first part of the journey to England, and then across the Atlantic Ocean, bypassing Cape Horn, together, then they had to separate at the Sandwich (Hawaiian) Islands. "Nadezhda", according to the expedition plan, should have gone to Kamchatka, where she was supposed to leave her cargo. Then Kruzenshtern should have gone to Japan and delivered there the Russian ambassador N.P. Rezanov and his retinue. After this, "Nadezhda" had to return to Kamchatka again, take a cargo of furs and take it to Canton for sale. The Neva's route, starting from the Hawaiian Islands, was completely different. Lisyansky was supposed to go "north-west, to the island of Kodiak, where the main office of the Russian-American company was located at that time. The Neva was supposed to winter here, and then it was supposed to take a cargo of furs and deliver it to Canton, where it was assigned meeting of both ships - "Neva" and "Nadezhda". From Canton, both ships were supposed to head to Russia past the Cape of Good Hope. This plan was carried out, although with retreats caused by storms that separated the ships long ago, as well as long stops for necessary repairs. and food replenishment.

Naturalists present on the ships collected valuable botanical, zoological and ethnographic collections, made observations of sea currents, temperature and density of water at depths of up to 400 m, tides and barometer fluctuations, systematic astronomical observations to determine longitudes and latitudes and established the coordinates of the whole a number of points visited by the expedition, including all the harbors and islands where there were anchorages.

If the special tasks of the expedition in the Russian colonies were successfully completed, then the same cannot be said about that part of the expedition’s plans that was associated with the organization of the embassy to Japan. The embassy of N.P. Rezanov was unsuccessful. Although he was surrounded by attention and all kinds of signs of honor and respect upon his arrival in Japan, he failed to establish trade relations with this country.

On August 5, 1806, the Neva arrived safely at the Kronstadt roadstead. Cannon salutes from the Neva and response salvos from the Kronstadt Fortress rang out. Thus, the Neva spent three years and two months at sea. On August 19, Nadezhda arrived, which had been on a circumnavigation for fourteen days longer than Neva.

The first Russian circumnavigation constituted an epoch in the history of the Russian fleet and brought to world geographical science a number of new information about little-explored countries. A whole series of islands that were visited by Lisyansky and Kruzenshtern had only recently been discovered by sailors, and their nature, population, their customs, beliefs and economy remained almost completely unknown. These were the Sandwich (Hawaiian) Islands, discovered in 1778 by Cook, less than thirty years before they were visited by Russian sailors. Russian travelers could observe the life of the Hawaiians in its natural state, not yet changed by contact with Europeans. The Marquesas and Washington Islands, as well as Easter Island, have been little studied. It is not surprising that the descriptions of the Russian trip around the world made by Kruzenshtern and Lisyansky aroused keen interest among a wide range of readers and were translated into a number of Western European languages. The materials collected during the voyage of the Neva and Nadezhda were of great value for the study of the primitive peoples of Oceania and the North Pacific Ocean. Our first Russian travelers observed these peoples in the stage of tribal relations. They were the first to describe in detail the peculiar, ancient Hawaiian culture with its immutable laws of “taboo” and human sacrifice. The rich ethnographic collections collected on the ships "Neva" and "Nadezhda", together with descriptions of the customs, beliefs and even the language of the Pacific islanders, served as valuable sources for the study of the peoples inhabiting the Pacific islands.

Thus, the first Russian trip around the world played a big role in the development of ethnography. This was greatly facilitated by the great observation and accuracy of the descriptions of our first travelers around the world.

It should be noted that numerous observations of sea currents, temperature and water density, which were made on the ships Nadezhda and Neva, gave impetus to the development of a new science - oceanography. Before the first Russian voyage around the world, such systematic observations were not usually made by navigators. Russian sailors turned out to be great innovators in this regard.

The first Russian circumnavigation opens a whole galaxy of brilliant trips around the world made under the Russian flag.

During these travels, an excellent cadre of sailors was created who acquired long-distance voyage experience and high qualifications in the art of navigation, which is difficult for a sailing fleet.

It is interesting to note that one of the participants in the first Russian circumnavigation of the world, Kotzebue, who sailed as a cadet on the ship "Nadezhda", subsequently himself carried out an equally interesting circumnavigation on the ship "Rurik", equipped at the expense of Count Rumyantsev.

The expedition on the ships "Neva" and "Nadezhda" paved a new route to the Russian North American colonies. Since then, their supply of necessary food and goods has been carried out by sea. These continuous long-distance voyages revived colonial trade and in many ways contributed to the development of the North American colonies and the development of Kamchatka.

Russia's maritime ties with the Pacific Ocean have strengthened, and foreign trade has developed significantly. With a series of valuable observations along long-distance routes, the first Russian voyage around the world laid a solid scientific foundation for the difficult art of long-distance navigation.