The strait, which opened Dezhnev. Dezhnev Semyon Ivanovich. History of geographical discoveries

Few people know the name of the strait, which Dezhnev discovered. Little is known about the life of this man. About an outstanding geographical discovery of the Russian navigator for a long time did not know anything. It should be noted that so far there is not enough information about the history of the journey, which Dezhnev Semyon Ivanovich made. What this person discovered and what it mattered will be discussed in this publication.

From the life of Semyon Ivanovich Dezhnev

Dezhnev was born in Veliky Ustyug supposedly in the first years of the 17th century. From there he went to Siberia, where he began his service in Tobolsk, and then in Yeniseisk. In 1641, together with M. Stadukhin, he went on a campaign against Oimyakon.

The future pioneer Semyon Dezhnev took part in the founding of the Nizhnekolymsky prison, which became the reference point for Russian travelers who were going to find an outlet to the mouth of the Anadyr River. In addition, he made several trips to the rivers Kolyma, Indigirka, Yana, to the mouth of the Lena. However, Dezhnev was most attracted by the Anadyr River. According to rumors, there were large stocks of walrus bones, which was highly valued in Russia. In 1647 he got on the expedition of F. A. Popov, in which he made an unsuccessful attempt to reach the mouth of the Anadyr River and go around Chukotka. 63 travelers on four ships moved on the sea to the east. However, they were blocked by large ice floes, and the explorers were forced to turn back.

The beginning of a new campaign

After a failed first campaign, it was decided to make a new trip to the mouth of the Anadyr River. June 30, 1648 expedition under the command of Sejan Dezhnev in the composition of 90 people left the Kolyma. The ships moved along the sea in an easterly direction. The journey was very difficult. In sea storms, several Dezhnev expedition ships disappeared (2 of them crashed on ice floes, and 2 more were blown away during a storm). Semyon Ivanovich in his memoirs noted that only 3 kochas (ships) entered the strait. They were headed by Dezhnev, Ankundinov and Alekseev. They reached the cape, which was called the Chukchi Nose, and saw several small islands. So Dezhnev opened the strait between Asia and America.

The foundation of the Anadyr jail

The strait, which Dezhnev discovered, solved the most important geographical problem. It became proof that America is an independent continent. In addition, this trip testified that from Europe to China there is a way through the northern seas around Siberia.

After the ships passed the strait, which Dezhnev opened, they reached the Anadyr Gulf, and then rounded the Olyutorsky Peninsula. The ship of the expedition, on which there were 25 people, was thrown ashore. From here the travelers made their way north. By the beginning of 1649, 13 people had reached the mouth of the Anadyr River. Then Dezhnev and his comrades went up the river and laid a winter residence there. In addition, the sailors founded the Anadyr jail. Here Dezhnev lived for 10 years.

Research of Dezhnev

From 1649 to 1659, Dezhnev investigated the basins of the Anadyr and Anyui rivers. Reports on the work done were sent to Yakutsk. These reports described in detail the strait, discovered by Dezhnev in 1648, the Anadyr and Anyui rivers, and also the terrain drawings were compiled. In 1652, Semyon Ivanovich opened the shoal where the walrus rookery was located. After that, Dezhnev managed to establish a trade for this beast in the Anadyr Gulf, which brought a big income to Russia.

The further destiny of the traveler

In 1659 Dezhnev transferred control of the Anadyrsky prison to K. Ivanov. A year later, the traveler moved to Kolyma. In 1661, Semyon Ivanovich Dezhnev went to Yakutsk, where he reached only in the spring of 1662. From there he was sent to Moscow in order to deliver the treasury to the tsar. Dezhnev provided the tsar with reports detailing his travels and studies. In 1655 Semyon Ivanovich was awarded the rank of Cossack ataman. Nothing is known about the fate of the Russian navigator.

The significance of the discovery of Sejan Dezhnev

The main merit of the Russian traveler lies in the fact that he opened the passage from the Arctic to the Pacific Ocean. He described this path and compiled his detailed drawing. Despite the fact that the maps developed by Semyon Ivanovich were very simplistic, with approximate distances, they were of great practical importance. The strait, which Dezhnev discovered, became an accurate indication of the fact that Asia and America are divided by the sea. In addition, the expedition led by Semyon Ivanovich first reached the mouth of the Anadyr River, where walrus deposits were discovered.

In 1736 in Yakutsk for the first time were found the forgotten reports Dezhnev. From them it became known that the Russian navigator did not see the shores of America. It should be noted that 80 years after Semyon Ivanovich in the southern part of the strait the Bering expedition was floating, which confirmed the discovery of Dezhnev. In 1778 Cook visited this area, who was only aware of the expedition of the early 18th century. It was he who called this passage the Bering.