Who is Przewalski and what did he discover? What did Nikolai Przhevalsky discover? What is he famous for?

FEDERAL AGENCY OF MARINE AND RIVER TRANSPORT

FEDERAL BUDGET EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION

HIGHER PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

“STATE UNIVERSITY OF MARINE AND RIVER FLEET NAMED AFTER ADMIRAL S.O.

MAKAROV"

Coursework in the discipline

“History of tourism” on the topic:

“The scientific significance of the travels of Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky”

Completed by: 1st year student T-11

Shadrina Daria Igorevna.

Checked by: Maria Dmitrievna Korableva, PhD, Associate Professor.

Submission date: 05/29/2013

Saint Petersburg

Introduction

Chapter 2. Travel

1 First trip

3 Third journey

4 The Fourth Voyage

5 Not only geography

Conclusion

Introduction

journey Przhevalsky discovery

Przhevalsky Nikolai Mikhailovich - Russian traveler, explorer of Central Asia, honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1878), major general (1886).

Nikolai Mikhailovich led an expedition to the Ussuri region (1867-1869) and four expeditions to Central Asia (1870-1885).

Przhevalsky's greatest achievements are the geographical and natural-historical study of the Kuen-Lun mountain system, the ridges of Northern Tibet, the Lob-Nor and Kuku-Nor basins and the sources of the Yellow River. In addition, they discovered many new forms of animals: wild camel, Przewalski's horse, Tibetan bear, new species of other mammals, as well as huge zoological and botanical collections, later described by specialists. Przhevalsky's works are highly appreciated; the Gold and Silver medals of the Russian Geographical Society (RGS) were established in his honor.

Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky entered the world history of discoveries as one of the greatest travelers. The total length of its working routes across Central Asia exceeds 31.5 thousand kilometers. The Russian explorer discovered a huge number of previously unknown ridges, basins and lakes in this region. His contribution to science is priceless.

The purpose of the course work is to study the research of Central Mountain Asia and prove the true significance of the works of N.M. Przhevalsky.

this work In the future I will need it to develop new tourist routes.

The subject of the course work is the study of Central Asia by Przhevalsky N.M.

The object of the course work is Przhevalsky's travels.

The objectives of the course work are:

studying the biography of Przhevalsky;

study of Przhevalsky's travels to Central Asia;

analysis of the scientific contribution of Przhevalsky's discoveries.

Research methods. The method of work of Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky became a powerful impetus for steel scientists, one might even say that this served as the foundation for the creation of new methods

research.

“This technique was the foundation on which other studies that glorified Russian science, pushing it forward in world geography, relied - Przhevalsky, Roborovsky, Kozlov, Potanin, Pevtsov and others,” emphasized in the Preface to his Memoirs “Travel to the Tien Shan 1856-1857." This quote belongs to P.P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky - creator of the new technique

geographical discoveries.

Chapter 1. Biography of Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky

I decided that this chapter will be devoted to the biography of Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky, as this will give some understanding of him not only as a traveler, but also as a person in general.

The future explorer of Asia, Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky, was born on May 31, 1839 on the Karetnikovs' estate in Kimborov, Smolensk province. In the fifth year, Nikolai’s uncle Pavel Alekseevich began to teach and become his teacher. He was a carefree man and a passionate hunter, he had beneficial influence on his pets (Nikolai Mikhailovchia and his brother Vladimir), teaching them not only literacy and French, but also shooting and hunting. Under his influence, a love for nature awakened in the boy, making him a traveler-naturalist.

Nikolai was good friend, but had no close friends. His peers succumbed to his influence: he was the horse breeder of his class. He always stood up for the weak and newcomers - this trait testifies not only to generosity, but also to an independent character.

Learning was easy for him: he had an amazing memory. His least favorite subject was mathematics, but even here his memory came to the rescue: “He always had a clear picture of the page of the book where the answer to the question was questions asked, and what font it is printed in, and what letters are on the geometric drawing, and the formulas themselves with all their letters and signs.”

During the holidays, Przhevalsky often spent his time with his uncle. They were placed in an outbuilding, where they came only at night, and spent the whole day hunting and fishing. This was undoubtedly the most useful part in the education of the future traveler. Under the influence of life in the forest, in the air, health was tempered and strengthened; Energy, tirelessness, endurance developed, observation became more sophisticated, love for nature grew and strengthened, which later influenced the traveler’s entire life.

Gymnasium education ended in 1855, when Przhevalsky was only 16 years old. In the fall, he went to Moscow and became a non-commissioned officer in the Ryazan infantry regiment, but was soon transferred as an ensign to the Polotsk infantry regiment, stationed in the city of Bely, Smolensk province.

He soon became disillusioned with military life. He longed for something reasonable and fruitful, but where to find this work? Where to put your strength? Sex life did not answer such questions.

“Having served five years in the army, having been dragged through guard posts, through various guardhouses, and into shooting with a platoon, I finally clearly realized the need to change this way of life and choose a broader field of activity where labor and time could be spent for a reasonable purpose.”

Przhevalky asked his superiors for a transfer to the Amur, but instead of answering, he was put under arrest for three days.

Then he decided to enter the Nikolaev Academy of the General Staff. To do this, it was necessary to pass an exam in military science, and Przhevalky zealously set to work on books, sitting over them for sixteen hours a day, and to relax he went hunting. An excellent memory helped him cope with subjects that he had no idea about. After sitting over books for about a year, he went to St. Petersburg to try his luck.

Despite strong competition (180 people), he was one of the first to be accepted. In 1863, at the beginning of the Polish uprising, it was announced to senior officers of the Academy that anyone who wished to go to Poland would be released on preferential terms. Among those interested was

Przhevalsky. In July 1863, he was promoted to lieutenant and appointed regimental adjutant to his former Polotsk regiment.

In Poland he took part in quelling the rebellion, but seems to have been more interested in hunting and books.

Having learned that a cadet school was opening in Warsaw, he decided that he needed to transfer and in 1864 he was appointed there as a platoon officer and at the same time as a teacher of history and geography.

Arriving in Warsaw, Przhevalsky zealously began his new duties. His lectures were a huge success: cadets from other sections of the class gathered to listen to his speech.

During his stay in Warsaw, Przhevalsky compiled a textbook on geography, which, according to the reviews of people knowledgeable in this matter, is of great merit, and studied a lot of history, zoology and botany.

He studied the Central Russian flora very thoroughly: he compiled a herbarium of plants from the Smolensk, Radom and Warsaw provinces, visited the zoological museum and botanical sal, used the instructions of the famous ornithologist Tachanovsky and botanist Aleksandrovich. Dreaming of traveling to Asia, he carefully studied the geography of this part of the world. Humboldt and Ritter (contributed to the formation of the theoretical foundations

geography of the 19th century) were his reference books. Immersed in his studies, he rarely went to visit, and by his nature he did not like balls, parties and other things. A man of action, he hated vanity and crowds, a spontaneous and sincere person, he had a kind of hatred for everything that smacked of conventionality, artificiality and falsehood.

Meanwhile, time passed, and the thought of traveling to Asia haunted Przhevalsky more and more persistently. But how to implement it? Poverty and uncertainty were strong obstacles.

Finally, he managed to achieve inclusion in the General Staff and transfer to East Siberian district

In January 1867, Przhevalsky left Warsaw.

While passing through St. Petersburg, Przhevalsky met P.P. Semenov, at that time chairman of the section physical geography Imperial Geographical Society, and, having explained the travel plan to him, asked for support from the Society.

This, however, turned out to be impossible. The Geographical Society equipped expeditions from people who had proven themselves through scientific work, and could not trust a person completely unknown.

At the end of March 1867, Przhevalsky came to Irkutsk, and at the beginning of May he received a business trip to the Ussuri region. The Siberian Geographical Society assisted him by issuing a topographical document.

tools and a small amount of money, which was useful given the meager means of the traveler.

The enthusiastic mood he was in was reflected in the following letter: “In 3 days, that is, May 26, I am going to the Amur, then to the Ussuri River, Lake Khanka and to the shore of the Great Ocean to the borders of Korea.

Overall the expedition was great. I'm crazy happy!

The main thing is that I am alone and can freely dispose of my time, location and activities. Yes, I had the enviable lot and difficult duty of exploring areas, most of which had not yet been trodden by a European.”

Thus began the first journey of Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky. There were four trips in total that made a definite contribution to science.

Unfortunately, Nikolai Mikhailovich died on October 20, 1888. Having caught a cold while hunting on October 4, he nevertheless continued to go hunting, choose camels, pack his things, and on October 8 he went to

Karakol, where the next journey was to begin. The next day, Nikolai Mikhailovich quickly pulled himself together and said a phrase that seemed strange to his friends: “Yes, brothers!” Today I saw myself in the mirror so nasty, old, scary that I just got scared and shaved quickly.”

The companions began to notice that Przhevalsky was not at ease. He didn’t like any of the apartments: sometimes it was damp and dark, sometimes the walls and ceiling were oppressive; Finally he moved outside the city and settled down in a yurt, camp-style.

October he felt so bad that he agreed to send for a doctor. The patient complained of pain in the pit of the stomach, nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite, pain in the legs and back of the head, and heaviness in the head. The doctor examined him and prescribed medications, although they did not really help the patient, because already on October 19, Przhevalsky already realized that his career was over. He gave the last orders, asked not to reassure him with false hopes and, noticing the tears in the eyes of those around him, called them women.

“Bury me,” he said, “on the shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, in my hiking clothes. The inscription is simple: “The traveler Przhevalsky.”

And by 8 a.m. on October 20, the agony began. He was delirious, from time to time he came to his senses and lay there, covering his face with his hand. Then he stood up to his full height, looked around at those present and said: “Well, now I’ll lie down...”

“We helped him lie down,” says V.I. Roborovsky, - and several deep, strong sighs took away forever the priceless life of a man who was dearer to us than all people. The doctor rushed to rub his chest with cold water; I put a towel with snow there, but it was too late: my face and hands began to turn yellow...

No one could control themselves; what happened to us - I won’t even dare to write to you. The doctor could not bear this picture - the picture of terrible grief; Everyone was sobbing loudly, and the doctor was sobbing too...

Regarding the traveler’s personal life, we can say that until the end of his life he remained single, leaving no offspring behind. However, a woman was present in his life - a certain Tasya Nuromskaya. This stately and beautiful girl I met Przhevalsky when I was a student, and both of them, despite the age difference, became interested in each other. According to legend, before Nikolai Mikhailovich’s last trip, she cut off her luxurious braid and gave it to her lover as a parting gift. Soon Tasya unexpectedly died from sunstroke while swimming. Przhevalsky did not survive her for long.

The conclusion to this chapter states that Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky was a man of action, striving to achieve his goals no matter what. He was not afraid to change his direction in order to fulfill

dreams are to travel and discover something new for the world and science. Even love for a girl could not resist love for nature.

Chapter 2. Travel

1 First trip

As it became known from the first chapter, the first trip, approved by the Siberian Department of the Geographical Society, took place in 1867, to the Ussuri region.

The voyage along the Ussuri, among wild, wooded areas, lasted 23 days. The travelers mostly walked along the shore, collecting plants and shooting birds, while the Cossack oarsmen, cursing the gentlemen who slowed down the movement with their undertakings, followed them in the boat. Having reached the village of Busse, Przhevalsky went to Lake Khanka, which was of much interest botanically, and especially zoologically: it serves as a station for myriads of birds during migration. Having collected a decent collection of plants, birds, insects and other things, he headed to the coast of the Sea of ​​Japan, and from there, in winter, he undertook a difficult and tiring expedition to a little-known part of the South Ussuri region. The expedition, during which 1060 miles were covered, lasted three months. On January 7, 1868, travelers returned to the village of Busse.

In the spring, Przhevalsky again went to Lake Khanka with the special purpose of studying its ornithological fauna and observing the passage of birds. “There are so many breeds of birds here,” he writes to his uncle, “that you couldn’t even dream of them. I now have 210 stuffed birds. Among the stuffed animals there is a crane - all white, only half of the wings are black; this crane has a wingspan of about 8 feet. There is also a sandpiper on Khanka, the size of a large goose and all of an excellent pink color; there is an oriole the size of a dove and bright yellow colors, and she whistles so loudly! There are herons as white as snow, black storks and many, many rarities, both between animals and between plants. Among the latter, especially remarkable is the huge (the size of a hat) water lily, Native sister Guiana Victoria; she’s all red and smells great.”

Having completed his observations on Lake Khanka, Przhevalsky was going to go to Manchuria. But at this time a gang of Chinese Honghuz robbers invaded our possessions on the coast of the Sea of ​​​​Japan,

exterminating Russian villages and inciting the local Chinese population to revolt. Przhevalsky was torn away from his studies and went to pacify the uprising, which he did quickly and successfully. For this he received the rank of captain, was transferred to the General Staff and appointed senior adjutant of the headquarters of the Primorsky region troops. He moved to Nikolaevsk-on-Amur, where he lived during the winter of 1868/69.

Having supplemented his research with new excursions during the spring and summer of 1869, he went to Irkutsk, where he lectured about the Ussuri region, and from there to St. Petersburg, where he arrived in January 1870. Here he was accepted as one of his own among the Geographical Society.

From the first days of his stay in St. Petersburg, he began to bother about a new expedition - to countries still unknown to Europeans.

Such an unknown country before Przhevalsky’s travels was the Central Asian Plateau. This huge area, six and a half million square miles, covers Tibet, Mongolia and

Dzungaria, replete with wild deserts, steppes, lakes, eternally snow-capped ridges and giant peaks; Here are the sources of the great rivers of China: the Yellow (Huang He) and the Blue (Yangtze Jiang) - in a word, the region is of deep interest in all respects.

For the first time, he intended to go to the area of ​​​​the sources of the Yellow River, to the basin of the vast Lake Kukunor, known until then only by name, and if possible, make his way to Northern Tibet and Lhassa.

In 1870, the Russian Geographical Society organized an expedition to Central Asia. Przhevalsky, an officer of the General Staff, was appointed its head. His former student at the Warsaw School, Second Lieutenant Mikhail Aleksandrovich Pyltsov, was traveling with him. Their path lay through Moscow and Irkutsk and further - through Kyakhta to Beijing, where Przhevalsky hoped to receive a passport from the Chinese government - official permission to travel to areas subject to the Heavenly Empire.

On January 1871, he arrived in the capital of China, which made a disgusting impression on him, which he expressed with the usual harshness: “I have not yet become acquainted with the city itself, but even the first impression is enough to unmistakably say that this is an unimaginable abomination. The same fanzas as on Ussuri, except in larger volume and number. The dirt and stench are unimaginable, as residents usually pour all the slop onto the street.”

He remained in Beijing until spring, preparing for a dangerous and risky expedition to areas engulfed by the Dungan uprising. The Dungans - Chinese Muslims - rebelled in the 60s and caused terrible devastation.

The detachment consisted of four people: Przhevalsky, Pyltsov and two Cossacks, who, however, had to be replaced with new ones. This circumstance delayed the travelers for some time, and in order not to waste time, Przhevalsky decided to make a small expedition north of Beijing, to Lake Dalainor in South-Eastern Mongolia. “Small”, however, is only relative: within two months, a thousand miles were covered, this entire area was mapped, the latitudes of the cities of Kalgan, Dolonnora and Lake Dalainor were determined, the heights of the distance traveled were measured, and significant zoological collections were collected. Returning from the expedition, the travelers rested for several days in the city of Kalgan and upon the arrival of two new Cossacks, they set off on their journey to the west.

Having followed the course of the Yellow River upward from Baotou to Dingkouzhen (about 400 kilometers), Przhevalsky moved southwest through the “wild and barren desert” of Alashan, covered with “bare shifting sands”, always ready to “suffocate the traveler with their scorching heat,” and reached a large, high (up to 1855 meters), but narrow meridional ridge Helanypan, stretched along the Yellow River valley.

But with the onset of winter we had to turn back. In addition, Pyltsov fell seriously ill. Przhevalsky himself suffered frostbite on both hands. North of the Yellow River, the expedition reached a treeless but rich

the keys to the Lanypan ridge, which stands as a “sheer wall, occasionally cut by narrow gorges,” and Przhevalsky traced it along its entire length (300 kilometers), and to the east he discovered another ridge, smaller and lower - Sheiten-Ula. New Year travelers met in Zhangjiakou.

Przhevalsky walked about 500 kilometers through the valleys along the banks of the Yellow River and found that in these places the great Chinese river has no tributaries and, in addition, the channel itself lies differently than can be seen on the maps.

Along the way, he collected plants, mapped the area, and made a geological description rocks, kept a weather journal, observed and amazingly accurately recorded the life, morals, and customs of the people through whose lands

passed. After spending two weeks in the Alashan Mountains, which provided zoological material, the expedition had to turn back. The funds were depleted to such an extent that they had to sell some of the weapons in order to somehow get out.

On the way back, they captured a vast inconsistent area along the right bank of the Yellow River.

Over the course of ten months, three and a half thousand miles were covered, the deserts of Ordos, Alashan, South Gobi, and the Inshan and Alashan ridges were explored; the latitudes of many points have been determined, rich

plant and animal collections and detailed meteorological data.

Having traveled to Beijing, Przhevalsky obtained money and, having re-equipped the expedition, set out from Kalgan in March 1872, with 174 rubles in his pocket. True, he still had a small supply of goods.

In May we reached Dyn-Yuan-In, sold goods, exchanged one of the fittings for camels, and with a caravan of Tanguts moved to Lake Kukunor. We walked along the hot sands of Southern Alashan, where sometimes for hundreds of miles there was not a drop of water, and the rare wells were often poisoned by the Dungans, who threw the bodies of the dead into them.

“It still hurts my heart when I remember how one day, after drinking tea from a similar well, we began to water the camels and, having scooped up the water, we saw a rotten corpse of a man at the bottom.”

No population was found in these areas; everything was devastated and exterminated by the Dungans.

The travelers spent more than two months in the mountainous terrain of Gan-su province. With the onset of autumn, they decided to move to Kukunar.

In October they finally reached Kukunor. Having devoted some time to exploring this lake and its surroundings, we moved on to Tibet.

Having crossed several mountain ranges and passing through the eastern part of Tsaidam, a vast plateau replete with salt lakes and swamps, the expedition entered Northern Tibet. The two and a half months spent in this harsh desert were the most difficult period of the journey. Frosts made hunting difficult: hands became numb, it was difficult to insert a cartridge into a rapid-fire gun, eyes filled with tears, which, of course, spoiled the speed and accuracy of the shot.

Storms that raised clouds of sand and dust darkened the air and made breathing difficult; it was impossible to open one's eyes against the wind.

The thin air made walking difficult: “The slightest ascent seems very difficult, you feel short of breath, your heart beats very hard, your arms and legs shake, and at times you begin to feel dizzy and vomit.”

The reward for these hardships was rich scientific results. Everything here was new, unknown to science: mountains, rivers, climate, fauna.

In March 1873, travelers reached Kukunor, where they sold and exchanged several revolvers for camels.

After spending two and a half months in the Ala-Shan Mountains, we moved to Urga through the Middle Gobi. For 1100 miles there is not a single lake here; wells are scattered over vast distances. The July heat, hot air, hot sand, dust and salt, flying in clouds in the air, greatly tormented the travelers.

Finally they came to Ugra, exhausted, in tatters: “There are no boots, instead of them there are torn high boots; the coats and trousers are all in holes and patches, the caps look like old, discarded rags, the shirts are all torn: only three are half-rotten...”

From Ugri, Przhevalsky went to Kakhta, from there to Irkutsk, Moscow, St. Petersburg...

From the very first days after our return, ceremonial meetings, congratulations, and dinners began.

Rewards were sent. The Minister of War offered Przhevalsky a pension of 600 rubles, the next rank and an annual allowance of 2,250 rubles for the entire duration of his stay at the General Staff.

Three years after returning from the trip were devoted to processing its results. Thus ended a memorable expedition, one of a kind, both in terms of the courage of the participants and in the enormity of the results achieved with meager means. Over the course of three years, 11 thousand miles were covered; 5300 of them were taken by eye; the hydrography of the Kukunor basin, the ridges in the vicinity of this lake, the heights of the Tibetan Plateau, and the least accessible areas of the great Gobi Desert were studied; the magnetic declination and voltage of the earth's magnetism were determined at various points; meteorological observations, data produced on the climate of these wonderful areas; rich collections of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, insects, plants...

2 Second trip. Lobpor expedition

The next project of the new expedition was mysterious lake Lop Nor, known, but almost only by name, since the time of Marco Polo, from here to Kukunoru, to Northern Tibet, Lhassa and further to the sources of the Irrawaddy and

Bramaputra. 27 thousand 740 rubles were allocated from the state treasury for this expedition. Nikolai's companion

Mikhailovich, on the first trip, Pyltsov got married, and therefore stayed at home, he was replaced by the volunteer Eklon.

In May 1876, Przhevalsky left with his companions for Moscow, from there through Nizhny Novgorod to Perm, where they spent several days waiting for 2l cartridges released by the War Ministry "for

decisions of various animals in the deserts of Asia, not excluding humans, if circumstances force it.”

Having reached the Tien Shan, Przhevalsky stopped for three weeks in the vast Yuldus basin, replete with all kinds of animals: bears, deer, argali, and so on.

Beyond the Tien Shan, travel became more difficult. Here began the possessions of Yakub-bok of Kashgar, the founder of a vast state in Eastern Turkestan. He received the travelers very kindly, sent them guides, fruits, sheep, various “delights” - but in every possible way interfered with their enterprise: he forbade the local population to communicate with them, assigned them a convoy that took the expedition along circuitous roads, forced them to swim across rivers at 17" frost, interfered with scientific

research.

Having reached the Tarim River, the expedition headed down its course. A little south of Lop Nor, the Altyntag garden ridge and within 40 days

tracked him for 500 versts at the edge unfavorable conditions: At a huge absolute altitude, in deep winter, among extremely barren terrain, we suffered more than anything from lack of water and frost.

There was very little fuel, and with unsuccessful hunts we could not get ourselves good meat and were forced to eat hares for some time. At the stopping places, the loose clay-salty soil instantly kneaded into dust, which lay in a thick layer everywhere in the yurt. We ourselves had not washed ourselves for a week, the dust was incredibly dirty, our dress was soaked through with dust, and our underwear had turned grayish from the dirt. Brown color».

From here Przhevalsky returned to Lopnor, where he spent two spring months watching the birds fly by. The first act of the expedition ended with complete success. Thanks to Przhevalsky’s filming, the orography and hydrography of this section of Inner Asia appeared in a completely new light.

In August, Przhevalsky again set out from Kulja and in November of the same year arrived in the Chinese city of Guchen at the foot of the Tien Shan. Here we had to abandon further travel. While still on the Lop Nor expedition, he contracted a disease - body itching; in Ghulja it began to pass, then resumed. There was no peace day or night: it was impossible to write, make observations, or even go hunting. After suffering for three months and making sure that the disease did not respond to the medicines of his camp pharmacy - tar, tobacco and blue vitriol - he decided to return to Russia, get a good cure and then go to Tibet.

After the second expedition, Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky was awarded the Big Gold Medal

Humboldt by the Berlin Geographical Society. Also, the London Geographical Society awarded the Royal Medal, and our Academy of Sciences and Botanical Garden Przhevalsky was elected an honorary member.

Thus ended his second journey.

3 Third journey

Having lived in the village, recovered, and regained his spirit, Nikolai Mikhailovich began to bother about traveling to Tibet. The State Treasury gave him 20 thousand rubles in addition to the amounts remaining from the Lobpor expedition.

On January 1879, he left St. Petersburg, and on March 28, 1879, a detachment of thirteen people set out from Zaisansk.

Having explored Lake Ulyugur with the Urungu River flowing into it, Przhevalsky moved through the vast arid steppe to the Khamiya oasis, famous since ancient times.

Days dragged on monotonously: no more than 25 fingers passed per day, as the journey was slowed down by photography, hunting, collecting plants, lizards, insects, and so on. At some well or spring we stopped for the night, pitched a tent, lit a fire, and cooked dinner.

They stopped at the Khamiya oasis for several days: it was an important trading and strategic point, and Przhevalsky wanted to get to know it better. From Hami, the expedition headed to the city of Sa-Zheu through the desert, in comparison with which even the previous steppe could be called a garden.

This was one of the most difficult crossings of the entire trip. There was nothing living in the desert: no plants, no animals, no birds, not even lizards and insects. “The bones of horses, mules and camels are constantly lying along the road. A cloudy atmosphere hangs over the hot daytime soil, as if filled with smoke: the wind does not move the air, does not provide coolness. Only hot whirlwinds often run through and carry spinning columns of salty dust far away. Deceptive mirages play in front and to the sides of the traveler. The heat during the day is unbearable. The sun burns from sunrise to sunset.”

We trudged through this inferno for two weeks; Finally we came to the Sa-Zhsu oasis, where we rested.

Having with great difficulty requested a guide from the local Chinese authorities, Przhevalsky moved further through the unknown ridges of Nanshan. The Chinese guide led him into such a remote area, riddled with ravines, that the expedition barely got out of there. Placed in a hopeless situation, Przhevalsky decided to find the road by patrols: two or three people were sent from the parking place to different sides, a hundred miles or more, and looked for the way: then the whole caravan set off. Finally, one of the patrols accidentally came across two Mongols. They were taken without ceremony, brought to the bivouac, and partly with gifts, partly with threats, they were forced to lead the expedition. Having crossed Nanshan, discovering two huge ridges (Humboldt and Ritter), Przhevalsky entered Tsaidam. Next, Przhevalsky moved to Tibet. Here the travelers were again greeted by thin air, sudden changes in temperature, storms - sometimes with snow and hail, sometimes with clouds of sand and dust, and finally, attacks by robber tribes. And again they were amazed by the incredible abundance of wild animals.

The Tibetan plateau is cut by ridges, first discovered and explored by Przhevalsky. Having reached one of these ridges, the expedition found itself in an almost hopeless situation. The snow covered all the paths and signs that the guide could use to navigate, and the latter became completely confused. The caravan traveled for a long time through the mountains, descending into gorges, rising to heights, and finally ran into a wall.

Having made sure that nothing could be squeezed out of the conductor either by threats or a whip, Przhevalsky drove him away and decided to look for the road by traveling. Happiness again helped the brave ones; The caravan safely got out of the mountains, crossed three more ridges and entered the valley of the Mur-Usu River.

In the Tan-La Mountains, the expedition was attacked by the Erai, a bandit tribe engaged in robbing caravans. About 60-70 egrayans attacked the travelers in one gorge, but were repulsed and retreated with damage.

Amidst all these hardships and dangers, the caravan moved forward irresistibly. There were no more than 250 versts left to Lhassa; we had to stop beyond the Tan-La pass.

The Tibetan government did not want to let Przhevalsky into Lhassa.

By the end of January 1880, the expedition returned to Tsaidam, partly along the same route, partly to new places.

From Tsaidam, the expedition went to Kukunar, from here to the upper reaches of the Yellow River, the study of which - replenished in the fourth trip - constitutes one of Przhevalsky's major services to geography. After spending three months in this area, we returned to Kukunar, completed the survey of this lake and finally decided to move home - through Ala-shan to Urga.

“Today we said goodbye to Kukunar. Probably forever... Before leaving, I looked at beautiful lake, trying to more vividly capture its panorama in memory. Yes, probably more than once in the future

I will remember the happy years of my wandering life. She endured a lot of hardships, experienced a few pleasures, experienced many moments that will not be forgotten until the grave.”

Przhevalsky's return to St. Petersburg was triumphant.

All members of the expedition were awarded awards: Przhevalsky a lifelong pension of 600 rubles in addition to the previous 600, and an order; the rest also received monetary awards and insignia. Moscow

The university elected him an honorary doctor, and various Russian and foreign scientific societies elected him an honorary member.

4 The Fourth Voyage

Before Przhevalsky had time to rest, he was drawn to the distant deserts of Asia.

In October 1883, an expedition consisting of 21 people set out from Kyakhta to Urga, and from there to Dyn-Yuan-Ying.

Having crossed the giant Burkhan Buddha ridge, we entered the plateau of Tibet and soon reached the Odon-Tala basin, in which the sources of the Yellow River lie. “Our long-standing aspirations were crowned with success: we now saw with our own eyes the mysterious cradle of the great Chinese river, and drank water from its sources. There was no end to our joy..."

Having completed the exploration of this part of Tibet, we moved through Tsaidam to Lop Nor and further through the desert.

Eastern Turkestan to our border with China. This entire part of the journey was replete with geographical discoveries: mountain ranges, snow-capped peaks, lakes, oases of Tsaidam and Eastern Turkestan were mapped.

In October 1886, the expedition reached our border, from where it went to the city of Karakol (now Przhevalsk).

In general, the journey lasted more than two years, the sources of the Yellow River were explored, the study of Tsaidam, the Lop Nor basin and the colossal Kuen Lun system was completed and expanded.

For this expedition, Przhevalsky received the rank of major general. This fourth journey was the last for the traveler.

5 Not only geography

I would like to place a special emphasis on Przhevalsky’s discoveries in the world of wildlife. Several books were published containing the traveler's observations throughout all the expeditions.

The first trip turned out to be a major contribution to our knowledge of Asian nature.

Przhevalsky assembled here a unique ornithological collection, to which all later research could add only very little; delivered interesting information about the life and customs of animals and birds, about the local population, Russian and foreign; explored the upper reaches of the Ussuri River, the basin of Lake Khanka, the eastern slope of the Sikhote-Alnn ridge; finally, he collected thorough and detailed data on the climate of the Ussuri region. As a result, the book “Travel in the Ussuri Region” was published, revealing in someone not only an energetic and tireless traveler, but also an excellent observer with wide interests, a passionate love of nature and thorough training.

Also on this same journey, rich scientific results served as a reward for the deprivation of amenities. Everything here was new, unknown to science: mountains, rivers, climate, fauna. What delighted and amazed travelers most was the fabulous abundance of large animals.

“At almost every mile you came across huge herds of yaks, wild donkeys, antelopes and mountain sheep. Usually around our tent, especially if it stood near water, wild animals could be seen everywhere, very often grazing along with our camels.”

After the first trip, it took three years to process the material and its results. The Geographical Society took over the publication of the book. The first volume of Mongolia and the Land of the Tanguts was published in 1875 and was soon translated into French, German and English. It contains a description of the trip, pictures of nature and life in Central Asia, a whole mine of information about the flora, fauna, climate, and population of the countries passed by the traveler. The second volume is special. Przhevalsky processed bird information and meteorological data for him.

After the second trip, Nikolai Mikhailovich outlined the results in the brochure “From Kuldzha beyond the Tien Shan and to Lop Nor,” which was also translated into European languages and aroused rave reviews from Western European scientists.

The third trip was memorable for the fabulous number of animals.

“The herds of kulans moved a little to the side and, turning in a heap, let us pass by, and sometimes even followed the camels for a while. Antelopes, orongos and adas calmly grazed and frolicked around or crossed the road in front of our riding horses, while the wild yaks lying down after feeding did not even bother to get up if the caravan passed them at a distance of a quarter of a mile. It seemed that we had found ourselves in a primeval paradise, where man and animals did not yet know evil and sin.”

After this trip, what he saw was also described. Like the previous ones, the book was translated into Western European languages. A report was made about it at the Paris Academy - a rare distinction, since reports on new books are usually not allowed there.

Conclusion

Let us summarize all four expeditions. What did Przhevalsky do for science?

The field of his research was the Central Aznat Plateau, which he consistently studied in its least known parts. He spent 9 years, 2 months and 27 days in this area, covering more than 30 thousand miles on his expeditions.

The largest of his geographical discoveries were the exploration of the Kuen-Lun mountain system, the ridges of Northern Tibet, the Lop Nor and Kukunar basins and the Yellow River.

In the distance of the northern outskirts of Tibet stretches the colossal system of the Kuen Lun mountain ranges - in Richthofen’s words, the “backbone” of Asia. Before Przhevalsky's research, she was known only by name and

depicted as an almost straight line; thanks to his expeditions, “the rectilinear Kuen-Lun definitely came to life, its most important bends became clear, it was divided into separate ridges connected by mountain nodes and

separated by deep valleys."

The discovery of the Altyntag ridge immediately revealed the general outline of the Tibetan fence, which has the appearance of a gentle arc curved to the north. Then the eastern part of the system (Nanshan) was explored, in which Przhevalsky discovered the North and South Tetungsky and South Kukunorsky ridges. Humboldt and Ritter; Central Kuen-Lun, a colossal interweaving of ridges, completely unknown before Przhevalsky (Burkhan-Buddha. Go-

Shiln, Tolay, Shuga and Khorosai, Marco Polo, Toran, Garynga ridges, Columbus and Tsaidamsky ridges, Przhevalsky, Moskovsky and Toguz-Daban ridges, western Kuen-Lun, consisting of the Russian ridges,

Cairn and Tekelik-Tag mountains). In these ridges there are often individual eternally snow-capped peaks covered with grandiose glaciers, such as the Tsar Liberator Mountain, the Kremlin Mountains, and Jinri. Monomakh's hat and others.

Exploration of the northern part of Tibet is also one of the largest geographical discoveries. Przhevalsky gave general description this plateau - the only one in the world in terms of height and vastness - was discovered and

explored a number of ridges scattered on it (the Ku-ku-Shili ridge and its continuation Bayan Khara, the Dumbure, Kongin, Tan-La ridges and individual snow mountain peaks of Dzhom, Darzy, Medu-kun), and the discovery of the eternally snow-capped Samtyn group -Kansir closed his research with the English ones, pointing out the connection between the Severo-Tibetan mountains and the Trans-Himalayan.

Lake Lop Nor was explored by him on two trips. Przhevalsky determined its true position, shape, size; mapped its tributaries, one of which, the Cherchen-Darya, was completely unknown before him, and the other, the Tarim, which forms a rather complex network with its branches and branches, was depicted incorrectly.

The vast Lake Kukunor, previously known only from legends, is now one of the most famous Asian lakes. Like Lop Nor, it represents the remnant of a once huge pool,

existed in a long geological era.

The first of the European travelers, Przhevalsky made his way to the upper reaches of the Yellow River, explored the Odon-Tala basin, in which it originates, and showed that it is composed of two rivers, which,

Having united, they flow into Lake Expedition and Lake Russkoe, which follows them. Next, he explored the least accessible areas of the great Gobi: the desert of Eastern Turkestan with its oases, the deserts of Ordos and

Alashan, the southern outskirts of the Gobi from the city of Kalgan to Dyn-Yuan-In, and its central part from Alashan to Kyakhta, in addition, he crossed the Gobi in other directions, in areas already touched in part by previous explorers. In general, his travels gave us a complete picture of the great Asian desert: its orography, oases, wells, lakes and springs, peculiar flora and fauna and original climate.

These discoveries put Przhevalsky's name on a par with the names of the greatest travelers - geographers of our century. Przhevalsky combined two types: a pioneer and a scientist. Love for a wild, free life, a thirst for strong sensations, dangers, and novelty created him as a pioneer traveler and adventurer; a passionate love for nature and especially for what lives, breathes, moves - plants, animals and birds - made him a scientist-traveler, whom the Germans compare to Humboldt.

Not limiting himself to collecting collections, he observed the life of animals. For the most remarkable species, he kept special books where biological data was recorded. In this way he compiled entire monographs. He collected about 1,700 plant species in 15-16 thousand specimens. His research revealed to us the flora of Tibet and Mongolia, and with the materials of Pevtsov, Potanin and others, they gave a complete picture of the vegetation of the entire Central Asian Plateau.

He did almost the same thing to study the climate of Central Asia. “While his travels continued,” says Professor Voeikov, “the enlightened and richest countries Western Europe competed in the study of Africa. Of course, space was given to the study of the climate of this part of the world, but our knowledge of the climate of Africa has advanced less through the efforts of these numerous travelers than our knowledge of the climate

Central Asia with information collected by Przhevalsky’s expeditions alone.”

I would like to end by saying that the memory of the great traveler is not forgotten. Quite a lot of architectural monuments have been preserved on the territory of our country, reminding us of such a talented person.

At the birthplace of N. M. Przhevalsky, a memorial sign was erected, and at his grave in the village of Pristan-Przhevalsk (near the city of Karakol) a monument was erected based on a drawing by A. A. Bilderling (see appendix, Fig. 1).

Another, according to his own design, was erected by the Geographical Society in the Alexander Garden in St. Petersburg (see appendix, Fig. 2).

In 1891, in honor of N. M. Przhevalsky, the Russian Geographical Society established a silver medal and a prize named after him, and in 1946, a gold medal named after Przhevalsky was established.

IN Soviet time Not far from the grave, a museum was organized dedicated to the life and work of N. M. Przhevalsky.

In 1999, the Bank of Russia issued a series of commemorative coins dedicated to N. M. Przhevalsky and his expeditions.

Named in memory of the researcher:

geographical features: Przhevalsky Ridge, discovered by him; glacier in Altai, etc.;

a number of species of animals and plants, including Przewalski's horse, Przewalski's pied, buzulnik

Przhevalsky;

the city of Karakol, in Kyrgyzstan, from 1889 to 1922 and from 1939 to 1992 bore the name Przhevalsk;

the village of Przhevalskoye in the Smolensk region, in which the traveler’s estate was located;

Przhevalsky streets in Moscow, Minsk, Irkutsk, Smolensk and other cities;

gymnasium named after N. M. Przhevalsky, Smolensk;

in the Primorsky Territory, a mountain system is named in honor of N.M. Przhevalsky - the Przhevalsky Mountains, a cave near the city of Nakhodka and a rock massif in the Partizanskaya River basin.

List of used literature

Przhevalsky N.M. “Travel in the Ussuri region 1868-1869.” - Vladivostok: Far Eastern Book Publishing House, 1990 - p.330

N. M. Przhevalsky “Travels to Lop Nor and Tibet”

Great encyclopedia Cyril and Methodius (BEKM)

N.M. Przhevalsky. “From Kulja beyond the Tien Shan and to Lop Nor.” - St. Petersburg, 1878.

Dubrovin. "N. M. Przhevalsky." - St. Petersburg, 1890.

In memory of Przhevalsky. Ed. Imperial Russian Geographical Society. - St. Petersburg, 1889.

Vesin. “Przhevalsky and his travels; - Bulletin of Europe, 1889, No. 7-8.”

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The Russian land has always been rich in people who strived to well understand and study nature and the world around us all. One of the most outstanding naturalists and travelers of Russia for several centuries is Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky, short biography which will be given in this article.

basic information

The future scientist was born on April 12, 1839 in the village of Kimborovo. His father, Mikhail Kuzmich, was a retired lieutenant, and his mother, Elena Alekseevna, ran a household. These days in locality, where Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky was born, whose brief biography interests many people, a memorial sign has been erected.

It is also worth noting that the hero of the article was a hereditary nobleman. His ancestors selflessly fought the army and received the right to wear their personal coat of arms for this.

Education and service

Przhevalsky Nikolai Mikhailovich (his short biography can serve as an example to follow) completed his studies at the Smolensk gymnasium in 1855, after which he was appointed to the rank of non-commissioned officer in an infantry unit in Ryazan. After which the military man became an officer and soon found himself in the 28th Polotsk Infantry Regiment. But the energetic young man did not stop there, and he became a cadet at the Nikolaev Academy of the General Staff.

Promotion

It was during his life in Nikolaev that he wrote his first creations, including “Memoirs of a Hunter” and others. Thanks to these works, Przhevalsky Nikolai Mikhailovich (biography, photos are given in this article) found himself in the ranks of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society. Having graduated from the Academy, the educated husband voluntarily went to Poland, where he suppressed the uprising that arose there. In the summer of 1863, the military man was awarded the rank of lieutenant.

Exploration and travel

In 1867, Przhevalsky Nikolai Mikhailovich, whose brief biography and discoveries to this day provide valuable information for his followers, was seconded to the harsh Ussuri region. Together with two Cossacks and a preparator named Nikolai Yagunov, he reached the Cossack village of Busse, located on After this, the travelers ended up at Lake Khanka, a place where many migratory birds gathered. Here Przhevalsky was able to obtain a lot of materials for ornithological research. During the winter period, the retired military man walked about 1,100 kilometers and at the same time studied the South Ussuri region.

What else did Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky do? His biography says that at the beginning of 1868 he moved to a lake called Khanka, and a little later in Manchuria he harshly pacified the robbers from China, for which he was awarded the post of senior adjutant of the headquarters of the Amur region troops. The first trip gave the soldier the opportunity to write essays about what he saw and heard.

The year 1870 was marked for Nikolai Mikhailovich with his first trip to the Central Asian region. At the beginning of November he ended up in Kyakhta, and from there he moved to Beijing. From the capital of the Celestial Empire, Przhevalsky left for the northern shore of Lake Dalai-Nur, where he stopped to rest. After this, the naturalist conducted research on the Yin-Shan and Suma-Khodi ridges. The military also proved that it does not have ramifications, as previously thought. And then I walked through the Ala-Shan desert and the Alshan mountains. The final destination was Kalgan again. In total, during the ten-month journey, the brave man covered approximately 3,700 kilometers.

In the period from 1872 to 1875, Przhevalsky Nikolai Mikhailovich (a brief biography of the geographer is stored in many archives) walked along the coast of Lake Kuku-Nor, the Tsaidam desert and the upper reaches of Mur-Usu. Over the course of three years, the scientist covered almost 12 thousand kilometers and wrote an essay entitled “Mongolia and the Country of the Tanguts.”

In 1876, Nikolai Mikhailovich went from Gulja to the Ili River for the second time. In 1877, he ended up in Lob-Nor, where he observed migratory birds and carried out other ornithological research. Due to illness, Przhevalsky was forced to stay in Russia longer.

The third journey of the energetic explorer started in 1879. His detachment of 13 people left the city of Zaisan, followed the Urungu River, the Sa-Zheu desert and the mountain ranges of Tibet. As a result, the team ended up in the Blue River Valley. The Tibetan rulers did not want to let Przhevalsky into Lhasa. The scientist was forced to return to Urga. The group returned home in 1881. It was during the period of his third journey that the naturalist discovered a new species of horse, which was named in his honor.

From 1883 to 1886, Nikolai Mikhailovich spent his fourth journey, during which he studied the watershed between the Blue and Yellow rivers.

Death

Przhevalsky Nikolai Mikhailovich, whose short biography will be of particular interest to children, in 1888 traveled towards the Russian-Chinese border through the city of Samarkand. Along the way, the scientist was hunting and, contrary to his own instructions, drank water from the river. As a result of this he became ill typhoid fever. Due to illness, the naturalist died and was buried on one of the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul. The traveler was buried in accordance with his requirements. They dug his grave for two days - the soil was so hard. The body of the deceased was placed in a double coffin.

Relatives

During his lifetime, Przhevalsky was so immersed in his active research activities that he was never able to start his own family. He left neither a wife nor children. Among his relatives, he had two brothers, whose names were Vladimir and Evgeniy.

Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky is one of the most famous and famous.

Date of Birth. Childhood

Nikolai was born in March 1839, in the village of Kimbolovo, which was located in the Smolensk province.

His parents belonged to the class of small landowners. Kolya studied at the local Smolensk gymnasium, after which he became a non-commissioned officer in the Ryazan infantry regiment.

Youth. Education

After serving a little and gaining experience, he entered the General Staff Academy. During his studies, Nikolai Mikhailovich wrote several geographical works, for which he was enrolled in the Russian Geographical Society.

The time of graduation from the Academy coincided with the Polish Uprising. Without having time to celebrate the end of his studies, he went to suppress the Polish rebellion in Poland, where he stayed for some time.

Przhevalsky taught at the local Junker School of History and Geography. IN free time loved to hunt and play cards. They say that he had a phenomenal memory, and therefore victory often smiled at him in cards.

First expedition

Nikolai Mikhailovich participated in many research expeditions. The first occurred in 1867-1869, he traveled around the Ussuri region. He compiled an ornithological collection, and also discovered a number of new geographical objects.

Second expedition

In 1876 he went on a Central Asian expedition, during which he visited the Altyntag Mountains. On the same trip, Przhevalsky compiled a description of Lake Lop Nor (proved that it was fresh).

Third expedition

In 1879, he again went to the same geographical area, where during this expedition (consisting of 13 people), several mountain ranges were discovered by him, and descriptions were given local rivers and lakes. We went down the Urungu River

Fourth Expedition (Tibetan)

Nikolai Przhevalsky was tormented by illness, but, despite the illness, he went on another expedition in 1883 (consisting of 21 people). This was the Tibet expedition, which lasted until 1885. Through the Ugra River we reached the Tibetan Plateau. He explored the Kunlun region and found many ridges and lakes in it. He talked about the Yellow River and its sources.

Fifth expedition

Took place in 1888. In the village of Karakol he continued his research and observations. Unfortunately, Nikolai Mikhailovich fell ill. Przhevalsky died in October 1888 from illness. He was buried two years before his death, he received the rank of major general in the Russian army.

The significance of Przhevalsky's works

Nikolai Mikhailovich is an amazing traveler, the author of many geographical works. Over the years of his activity, he managed to develop a unique research methodology and safety precautions.

It is worth noting one feature in the travels that Przhevalsky led - not a single person from his team died. It is amazing! Perhaps this was due to the fact that only soldiers and officers of the Russian army participated in his expeditions. This ensured iron discipline and order.

In addition to many discovered geographical objects, this man discovered a number of new species of horses and camels. Who hasn't heard about the famous Przewalski's horse? The Tibetan bear, by the way, is also a discovery of the Russian traveler.

The British Royal Geographical Society named the Russian traveler Przhevalsky the greatest traveler in the world. Why? Over 11 years of travel, he traveled enormous distances, about 31,500 kilometers.

In addition, huge zoological collections were collected, and many plant herbariums were compiled. Nikolai Przhevalsky is recognized throughout the world. Several world institutes awarded him the title of Doctor. Nikolai Mikhailovich is an honorary citizen of St. Petersburg and Smolensk. In 1891, the Russian Geographical Society established a medal and award named after the traveler.

Russian traveler Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky went down in history as a tireless explorer of Central Asia, who discovered Western world previously unexplored lands with their unique nature, population and unique culture. Nikolai Mikhailovich has several expeditions to Central Asia and the Ussuri region.

short biography

The future naturalist was born on April 12, 1839 in the village of Kimborovo, Smolensk region. The Przhevalsky family belonged to an old noble family, and had its own coat of arms, bestowed for their valor during military battles.

After graduating from high school, Nikolai began serving in Ryazan infantry regiment where did you get it officer rank. Unlike most of his colleagues, he spent all his free time not in idle revelry, but in hunting, collecting herbariums, and studying ornithology.

Rice. 1. Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky.

After serving for five years, Przhevalsky continued his education at the Academy of the General Staff, where he closely studied the works of outstanding geographers. For excellent studies, the capable student was elected a full member of the Geographical Society.

Having joined the Warsaw Junker School as a teacher of geography and history, Przhevalsky simultaneously studied botany, zoology, and even compiled a textbook on geography.

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Getting to know the Ussuri region

Przhevalsky always dreamed of traveling to distant countries, about which he read so much in books. Soon he was presented with such an opportunity - in 1867, a promising specialist was sent to the Ussuri region for two years to study the local flora and fauna.

Having arrived at the place, Przhevalsky began to study the nature of Ussuri in earnest. During his exploration of the southern region, he covered more than a thousand miles in just three months: the naturalist approached the task entrusted to him very responsibly and tirelessly carried out observations.

Rice. 2. Ussuri region.

During his expedition to the Ussuri region, Przhevalsky managed to collect about three hundred species of plants and produce the same number of stuffed birds. Moreover, many of the exhibits he collected were discovered for the first time.

Traveling in Central Asia

Przhevalsky's famous travels in Central Asia began in 1870, when the Russian Geographical Society appointed the researcher as head of the first expedition.

It is very difficult to overestimate the merits of the great traveler, because during all four expeditions in Central Asia he made many important discoveries:

• Przhevalsky became the first white man who managed to penetrate deep into Northern Tibet, to the headwaters of the great Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, and thoroughly explore these territories.
• Introduced detailed descriptions deserts of Alashani, Ordos and Gobi, highlands of Northern Tibet.
• Updated maps of Central Asia, on which previously unknown ridges, large and small lakes were plotted.
• Explored the mysterious Lake Lop Nor - a muddy freshwater lake that changed its location.
• Discovered the lower reaches of the Tarim and the Altyntag ridge.
• Opened a whole one mountainous country- Kunlun, the existence of which no one in Europe even knew.
• He filmed several thousand kilometers of his journey through the regions of Central Asia.

During his expeditions, Przhevalsky collected an impressive herbarium - more than 1,500 various types, as well as large collections of various animals of Central Asia. He discovered new species, which later received his name: rhododendron, split-tail, lizard, wild horse.

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PRZHEVALSKY, NIKOLAY MIKHAILOVICH(1839 –1888) – Russian geographer, explorer of Central Asia, major general, honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences.

Born on March 31, 1839, in the village of Kimborovo, Smolensk province. in an impoverished family of a hereditary Belarusian nobleman, he was raised by his uncle, a passionate hunter, who instilled in his nephew an interest in nature and travel.

In 1855 he became a military man and graduated from the Academy General Staff in 1863. At the same time his first publication was published - Memories of a Hunter. Since 1864, having taken the position of history teacher at the Warsaw Junker School, he became interested in descriptions of travels and discoveries, became acquainted with zoology and botany exotic countries, made an attempt to write a new geography textbook. In 1866 he was assigned to the General Staff and assigned to the Siberian Military District.

In 1867 he came to St. Petersburg, where he met with the traveler P.P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky. From 1867–1869 he was in the Ussuri region, reaching Lake Khanka (which was the wintering ground for many birds, which provided material for ornithological observations). Wrote several works about the Amur region, incl. Travel to the Ussuri region, was appointed in 1869 adjutant of the headquarters of the troops of the Amur region.

From 1870 - already in Mongolia, from where he reached Beijing, Lake Dalai-Nor, explored the Suma-Khodi and Yin-Shan ridges, proved that the Yellow River does not have a branch, as previously thought based on Chinese sources. He passed through the Ala Shan desert and the Alashan Mountains, visited Tibet and the upper reaches of the Blue River (Mur-Usu), in 1873 he explored the Middle Gobi, reached Kyakhta, having covered 11 thousand versts in three years. In the trip report - Mongolia and the country of the Tunguts- described in detail the Gobi, Ordos and Alashani deserts, the highlands of Northern Tibet and the Tsaidam basin (discovered by him), for the first time he mapped more than 20 ridges, seven large and a number of small lakes on the map of Central Asia. The work brought the author the Gold Medal of the Paris Geographical Society. The Russian Geographical Society awarded him the Great Constantine Medal, awarded him the rank of lieutenant colonel and a lifelong pension of 600 rubles annually.

In 1876–1877, during the Second Central Asian Expedition (Lop Nor and Dzhungar), he discovered the Altyn-Tag ridge, proved that Lake Lop Nor was fresh and not salty (as previously believed), and made new observations of birds, which he described in an essay From Kulja beyond the Tien Shan and to Lob-Nor. In 1879–1880 he was already the leader of the Third Central Asian Expedition. With a detachment of 13 people, he descended the Urungu River, passed through the Hali oasis and (through the desert) to the Sa-Zheu oasis, passed the Nan Shan ridges and entered Tibet and from there to the Mur-Usu valley. The Tibetan government did not allow him to enter Khlassa (Lhasa), from which he was (after passing the Tan-La pass) 250 versts.

In 1883–1885 the fourth expedition to Central Asia took place. Its 21 participants, including botanist V.I. Roborovsky and geographer P.K. Kozlov, walked and drove a total of more than 30 thousand miles. Moving from Kyakhta along the old route through Urga, we reached the Tibetan Plateau, continuing our exploration of the sources of the Yellow River and the watershed between the Yellow and Blue Rivers. During the expedition, Przhevalsky reached Karakol, having covered 7 thousand miles without roads in two years. On northern border Tibet discovered a mountainous country about which Europe knew nothing, described the sources of the Yellow River, discovered new lakes, calling them “Russian” and “Expeditions”.

His last work was published in 1888 From Kyakhta to the sources of the Yellow River. In the same year, his fifth expedition reached the village. Karakol, the description of which ended the previous one. Here, near the eastern shore of Issyk-Kul, Przhevalsky fell ill with typhoid fever and died on October 20, 1888, and was buried here. On his grave, as he bequeathed, the modest inscription “Traveller N.M. Przhevalsky” was engraved. Przhevalsky's scientific reports contain vivid descriptions of nature, relief, climate, rivers, lakes, vegetation and wildlife. He established the direction of the main ridges of Central Asia, discovered new ones, and clarified the boundaries of the Tibetan Plateau (where Przhevalsky was the first European to reach these regions). The extensive zoological (7.5 thousand specimens of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish), botanical (herbarium - 15 thousand specimens, including 218 new species and 7 genera) and mineralogical collections he collected are a source of pride. domestic museums.

In 1891, on the recommendation of the Russian Geographical Society, the N.M. Przhevalsky Prize was established, as well as a silver medal, and in 1946 - a gold medal. Monuments to the traveler were erected in St. Petersburg and Przhevalsk. A city (formerly Karakol), a ridge in the Kunlun system, a glacier in Altai, and a number of plant and animal species are named after him. A traveler discovered a wild camel and, in 1879, a species of wild horse that received its name (Equus Przevalskii). According to the description of N.M. Przhevalsky himself, it differs “from the domestic short standing mane, lack of bangs, tail, the base of which is covered short hair, as well as a larger head."

Lev Pushkarev, Natalya Pushkareva