The great Russian traveler Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky. Traveling in Central Asia

Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky

Journey in the Ussuri region. 1867-1869

FOREWORD

H. M. Przhevalsky received world fame as a result of four expeditions to Central Asia. His first journey - Ussuri is less known.

The grandiose discoveries of Przhevalsky in the deserts of Mongolia, in the swamps of Tsaidam, in high Tibet and at Lop-nor overshadowed the results of his research on the Ussuri and Lake Khanka. He spent more than nine years in Central Asia, traveled and mapped over 30,000 km.

Traveling in the Ussuri region was the beginning of Przhevalsky's research activities. In the first chapter of the description of the fourth trip to Central Asia, he wrote: “A novice traveler must first try his hand on a small and not particularly difficult expedition, which was for me a trip to the Ussuri region in 1867, 68 and 69, in order to gain some experience and then embark on a larger enterprise.

The Ussuri trip, according to Przhevalsky, was for him "the first test of strength", but this trip alone was enough for Przhevalsky's name to remain in the history of science.

Let us remind the reader some information about Przhevalsky and about his first journey, the description of which this book is devoted to.

Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky was born on March 31 (April 12), 1839 in the village of Kimborovo, formerly. Smolensk province., 40 km from Roslavl, in the family of a retired army captain. Father died when N. M. Przhevalsky was 7 years old; together with two younger brothers, he remained in the care of his mother - Ekaterina Alekseevna, a smart and energetic woman. After the death of her husband, she took up housekeeping, and the children were brought up mainly by her brother Pavel Alekseevich Karetnikov, who taught them not only to read and write, but also to shoot and hunt.

“The upbringing was the most Spartan,” H. M. Przhevalsky later recalled, “I could leave the house in any weather and early became addicted to hunting. First I shot acorns from a toy gun, then from a bow, and at the age of 12 I got a real gun.

In excursions through the Smolensk forests, Przhevalsky developed a love for nature, which made him a traveler in the future.

In 1849, together with his brother Przhevalsky, he entered the Smolensk gymnasium. After a free village life, it was difficult to get used to the monotonous life of the city.

During the holidays, the children returned to the village and lived in a separate wing with their uncle, who took them hunting or fishing with him for whole days; returned home only to spend the night.

After graduating from high school in 1855, Przhevalsky volunteered for the army. At this time, the Crimean War was taking place, and he sought to get to the front. He did not go to the front, and the army situation in which Przhevalsky was, soon disappointed him. “My only consolation,” said Nikolai Mikhailovich, “was a gun ordered from the village, with which I constantly went hunting; in addition, having received knowledge from zoology and botany at the gymnasium, I became addicted to picking flowers.

Reading many books, Przhevalsky dreamed of traveling. In a letter to his superiors, he asked to be transferred to the Amur. The answer was arrest for three days. Przhevalsky realized that the only way out for him was to enter the Academy of the General Staff. He begins to intensively prepare for competitive exams and a year later, in 1861, he enters the Academy. When moving to the 2nd year, Przhevalsky takes the Amur Territory as the theme for the essay.

Later, in 1864, his first work, Military Statistical Review of the Amur Territory, was submitted to the Geographical Society, which, at the suggestion of Academician V.P. Bezobrazov, elected him a full member of the Geographical Society. This manuscript served Przhevalsky as the best recommendation. According to P.P. Semenov-Tian-Shansky, who at that time was the chairman of the department of physical geography of the Geographical Society, this first scientific work of H. M. Przhevalsky was done well and “based on a very efficient and thorough study of sources, and most importantly, on the most subtle understanding countries".

After graduating from the Academy, Przhevalsky again asks to be transferred to Siberia, but is refused and forced to leave for his regiment, which was stationed in Poland at that time.

In 1864, he was in the Smolensk province, and at the end of that year he was appointed as an officer on duty (and then a librarian) at the Warsaw cadet school. “Here, for 2 years and several months, I, confident that sooner or later, but I will fulfill my cherished dream of traveling, intensively studied botany, zoology, physical geography, etc., and in the summer I went to my village, where, continuing the same studies, he made up a herbarium. At the same time, I gave public lectures at the school on the history of geographical discoveries of the last three centuries and wrote a geography textbook for the junkers ... I got up very early and spent almost all the time free from lectures sitting at books, because, having filed a petition for my appointment to Eastern Siberia, has already outlined a plan for his future journey.

So Przhevalsky himself spoke about his stay at the school. At the end of 1866, after repeated petitions, Przhevalsky was appointed to the headquarters of the East Siberian Military District and left Warsaw in January of the following year.

Passing through St. Petersburg, N. M. Przhevalsky first personally met P. P. Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky, then already a famous traveler, explained to him the plan of his trip to Central Asia and asked for the assistance of the Geographical Society. However, the Society did not dare to organize such a distant expedition under the leadership of Przhevalsky. “At that time,” says P.P. Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky, “the Society extremely rarely helped young travelers who went on a trip on their own initiative, perhaps because such an initiative was still too rare; but from time to time it equipped its expeditions, selecting their composition exclusively from persons already known for their scientific works and recommended by the organizers of the expeditions. H. M. Przhevalsky was still a completely unknown figure in the scientific world, and the Council of the Society did not dare to give him an allowance for his enterprise, and even more so to organize an entire expedition under his leadership. As chairman of the department, and in the deep conviction that a talented young man could make a wonderful traveler, I nevertheless tried to encourage N. M. with warm participation and letters of recommendation ... At the same time, I promised H. M. that if he would make any however interesting trips and studies in the Ussuri region, which will prove his ability to travel, then, upon returning from Siberia, he can hope for the organization of the Society, under his leadership, a more serious expedition to Central Asia.

It should be recalled that shortly before Przhevalsky's travels in the Ussuri region, the final delimitation of lands between Russia and China took place.

According to the Aigun Treaty, concluded in May 1858, the left bank of the Amur was recognized as a possession of Russia. In November 1860, the Beijing Treaty was signed, according to which China officially recognized the Ussuri Territory as Russian possessions. This new little-known area was advised by Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky to explore Przhevalsky.

In April 1867, with letters to the administration and leaders of the branch of the Geographical Society in Siberia, Przhevalsky arrived in Irkutsk. Here he continues to intensively prepare for the expedition. All literature available in Irkutsk, manuscripts, notes relating to the Ussuri region, were read to him. Before leaving, he compiled a memorable reference book for the upcoming trip.

“Scientifically,” writes Przhevalsky, “I was sufficiently prepared in my subject: I knew well botany, ornithology, etc.; At the same time, he had with him a large stock of various books. The scientific equipment was simple and consisted of a thermometer, a compass, and route maps. I didn’t even have a barometer with me, and Przhevalsky subsequently determined the heights of the mountains by the temperature difference at the foot and at the top. The only thing that was enough was shot and gunpowder. He had only one shot with him four poods.

All that remained was to find a companion. The German Robert Koecher, whom Przhevalsky took from Warsaw as a preparator, proved incapable of enduring hardships. And when Przhevalsky announced that he was going to the Amur, the German resolutely declared: “No, I have gone so far, I won’t go further!” Having unexpectedly lost my companion, - Nikolai Mikhailovich recalled, - I was upset by this, but then Yagunov, who had just entered the topographer, accidentally came to me from the headquarters. We started talking. I liked Yagunov so much that I offered him to go with me to the Ussuri; he agreed. In addition, Nikolaev went with us. In early May, Przhevalsky received a business trip to the Ussuri Territory. The enthusiastic mood in which Nikolai Mikhailovich was was permeated with his letter to his friend I. L. Fateev: “In three days I am going to the Amur, then to the river. Ussuri, Lake Khanka and on the shores of the Great Ocean, to the borders of Korea. In general, the expedition is excellent. I'm crazy happy. The main thing is that I am alone, I can freely dispose of my time, place and occupation. Yes, an enviable share and a difficult duty fell on me - to explore the areas, for the most part, in which the foot of an educated European has not yet set foot.

Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky

Russian military leader

Przhevalsky Nikolai Mikhailovich (1839-1888) - Russian military figure, major general (1886), geographer, explorer of Central Asia, honorary member of the St. Petersburg LA (1878).

In military service since 1855. In 1864-1867. - teacher of geography and history, librarian at the Warsaw cadet school. In 1866, he was assigned to the General Staff and assigned to the Siberian Military District.

In 1867-1885. made four expeditions, covering more than 30 thousand km: in the Far East - to the Ussuri Territory; to the Centre. Asia - to Mongolia, China and Tibet. He died at the beginning of the fifth journey near the lake. Issyk-Kul.

He summarized the scientific results of the expeditions in a number of books, giving a vivid picture of nature and characteristics of the relief, climate, rivers, lakes, flora and fauna in Asia. Established the direction of the main mountain ranges Center. Asia and opened a number of new ones; clarified the boundaries of the Tibetan Plateau; collected extensive mineralogical and zoological collections; discovered and described a wild camel and a wild horse (Przewalski's horse).

Orlov A.S., Georgiev N.G., Georgiev V.A. Historical dictionary. 2nd ed. M., 2012, p. 408.

Traveler

Przhevalsky Nikolai Mikhailovich (1839, Kimborovo village, Smolensk province - 1888, Karakol city on Lake Issyk-Kul) - traveler. Genus. in a noble family. I have dreamed of traveling since childhood. In 1855 he graduated from the Smolensk gymnasium. At the height of the Sevastopol defense, he entered the army as a volunteer, but he did not have to fight. After 5 years of military service unloved by Przhevalsky, he was refused a transfer to the Amur for research work. In 1861 he entered the Academy of the General Staff, where he completed his first geographical work "Military Geographical Review of the Amur Territory", for which Rus. the Geographical Society elected him as a member. In 1863 he graduated from the academic course and went as a volunteer to Poland to suppress the uprising. He served in Warsaw as a teacher of history and geography at the cadet school, where he was seriously engaged in self-education, preparing to become a professional researcher of little-studied countries. In 1866 he was appointed to Vost. Siberia, about which he dreamed. With the support of Rus. Geographical Society, in 1867 - 1869 made a trip, the result of which was the book. "Journey in the Ussuri Territory" and rich collections for the geographical society. After that, in 1870 - 1885, Przhevalsky made four trips to the little-known regions of Central Asia; surveyed more than 30,000 km of his path, discovered unknown mountain ranges and lakes, a wild camel, a Tibetan bear, a wild horse named after him. He told about his travels in books, giving a vivid description of Central Asia: its flora, fauna, climate, the peoples who lived in it; collected unique collections, becoming a universally recognized classic of geographical science. He died of typhoid while preparing to make his fifth expedition to Central Asia.

Used materials of the book: Shikman A.P. Figures of national history. Biographical guide. Moscow, 1997

Russian geographer

Przhevalsky Nikolai Mikhailovich, Russian geographer, famous researcher of the Center. Asia, major general (1888), honorary member. Petersburg. AN (1878). Graduated from the Academy of the General Staff (1863). In the army since 1855; in 1856 he was promoted to officer, served in the Ryazan and Polotsk infantry. shelves. In 1864-67 a military teacher. geography and history in the Warsaw cadet school. Then P. was assigned to the General Staff and assigned to the Siberian military. district. Here began his many years of fruitful activity in research. expeditions, actively supported by P. P. Semyonov (Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky) and other scientists Rus. geographical about-va. Ch. merit P. - geography., natural-historical research Center. Asia, where he established the direction of the main. ridges and opened a number of new ones, said sowing. borders of the Tibetan Plateau. Military a scientist-geographer, P. laid out all his routes on the map, while the topography, surveys were carried out with exceptional accuracy. Along with this, P. conducted meteorology, observations, collected collections on zoology, botany, geology, and information on ethnography. P. successively conducted expeditions: to the Ussuri region (1867-69), to Mongolia, China, Tibet (1870-73), to the lake. Lobnor and to Dzungaria (1876-77), to the Center. Asia - the first Tibetan (1879-80) and the second Tibetan (1883-85). They were unparalleled in terms of spatial scope and routes (during all five expeditions, P. covered more than 30 thousand km). The scientific works of P., covering the course and results of these expeditions, in a short time received world fame and were published in many. countries. Research P. marked the beginning of a systematic study of the Center. Asia. In 1891, in honor of P. Rus. geography, the society established a silver medal and a prize named after him. In 1946, a gold medal was established to them. H. M. Przhevalsky, awarded Geography, Society of the USSR. Named after P.: a city, a ridge in the Kunlun system, a glacier in the Altai, other geography, objects, as well as a number of animal species (Przhevalsky's horse) and plants discovered by him during his travels. P. monuments were erected near Przhevalsk, not far from the lake. Issyk-Kul, where his grave and museum are located, as well as in Leningrad.

Used materials of the Soviet military encyclopedia in 8 volumes, volume 6.

Was second... after Marco Polo

Przhevalsky Nikolai Mikhailovich - Russian traveler, explorer of Central Asia; honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1878), major general (1886). He led an expedition to the Ussuri region (1867-1869) and four expeditions to Central Asia (1870-1885). For the first time he described the nature of many regions of Central Asia; discovered a number of ridges, basins and lakes in Kunlun, Nanshan and the Tibetan Plateau. Gathered valuable collections of plants and animals; for the first time described a wild camel, a wild horse (Przewalski's horse), a pischuatous bear, etc.

Przhevalsky was born in the village of Kimbory, Smolensk province, on April 12, 1839. His father, a retired lieutenant, died early. The boy grew up under the supervision of his mother in the Otradnoye estate. In 1855, Przhevalsky graduated from the Smolensk gymnasium and entered the military service as a volunteer. Przhevalsky, evading revelry, spent all his time hunting, collecting a herbarium, and took up ornithology. After five years of service, Przhevalsky enters the Academy of the General Staff. In addition to the main subjects, he studies the works of geographers Ritter, Humboldt, Richthofen and, of course, Semenov. In the same place, he prepared a term paper "Military Statistical Review of the Amur Territory", on the basis of which in 1864 he was elected a full member of the Geographical Society.

Soon he achieved a transfer to Eastern Siberia. With the help of Semenov, Przhevalsky received a two-year business trip to the Ussuri Territory, and the Siberian Department of the Geographical Society ordered him to study the flora and fauna of the region.

Przhevalsky spent two and a half years in the Far East. Thousands of kilometers have been covered, 1600 kilometers have been covered by route survey. The Ussuri basin, Lake Khanka, the coast of the Sea of ​​Japan... A large article "Foreign population of the Ussuri region" has been prepared for publication. About 300 species of plants were collected, more than 300 stuffed birds were made, and many plants and birds were discovered in Ussuri for the first time. He begins to write the book "Journey to the Ussuri Territory".

In 1870, the Russian Geographical Society organized an expedition to Central Asia. Przhevalsky was appointed its head. Lieutenant M.A. rode with him. Polltsov. Their path lay through Moscow and Irkutsk and further - through Kyakhta to Beijing, where Przhevalsky received travel permission from the Chinese government. He was on his way to Tibet.

Przhevalsky was the first European to penetrate into the deep region of Northern Tibet, to the upper reaches of the Huang He and Yangtze (Ulan Muren). And he determined that Bayan-Khara-Ula is the watershed between these river systems. He returned to Kyakhta in September 1873, never reaching the capital of Tibet - Lhasa.

Przhevalsky traveled more than 11,800 kilometers through the deserts and mountains of Mongolia and China and mapped (on a scale of 10 versts in 1 inch) about 5,700 kilometers. The scientific results of this expedition amazed contemporaries. Przhevalsky gave detailed descriptions of the deserts of the Gobi, Ordos and Alashani, the highlands of northern Tibet and the Tsaidam basin (discovered by him), for the first time mapped more than 20 ridges, seven large and a number of small lakes on the map of Central Asia. Przhevalsky's map was not accurate, because due to very difficult travel conditions, he could not make astronomical determinations of longitudes. This significant defect was later corrected by himself and other Russian travelers. He collected collections of plants, insects, reptiles, fish, and mammals. At the same time, new species were discovered that received his name - Przewalski's foot-and-mouth disease, Przewalski's splittail, Przewalski's rhododendron... The two-volume work "Mongolia and the Tangut Country" (1875-1876) brought the author world fame, was translated into a number of European languages.

The Russian Geographical Society awards him the Big Gold Medal and the "highest" awards - the rank of lieutenant colonel, a lifetime pension of 600 rubles annually. He receives the Gold Medal of the Paris Geographical Society. From now on, his name is put next to Semenov-Tyan-Shansky, Krusenstern and Bellingshausen, Livingston and Stanley ...

In January 1876, Przhevalsky submitted a plan for a new expedition to the Russian Geographical Society. He intended to explore the Eastern Tien Shan, reach Lhasa, explore the mysterious Lop Nor Lake. In addition, Przhevalsky hoped to find and describe the wild camel that lived there, according to Marco Polo.

In February 1877, Przhevalsky reached a huge reed swamp - Lake Lobnor. According to his description, the lake was 100 kilometers long and 20 to 22 kilometers wide.

On the banks of the mysterious Lop Nor, in the "country of Lop", Przhevalsky was second ... after Marco Polo! The lake became, however, the subject of a dispute between Przhevalsky and Richthofen. Judging by the Chinese maps of the early 18th century, Lobnor was not at all where Przhevalsky discovered it. In addition, contrary to popular belief, the lake turned out to be fresh, not salty. Richthofen believed that the Russian expedition discovered some other lake, and the true Lop Nor lies to the north. Only half a century later, the riddle of Lopnor was finally solved. Lob in Tibetan means "muddy", nor - in Mongolian "lake". It turned out that this swamp-lake changes its location from time to time. On Chinese maps, it was depicted in the northern part of the desert drainless depression Lob. But then the Tarim and Konchedarya rivers rushed south. The ancient Lobnor gradually disappeared, leaving only salt marshes and saucers of small lakes in its place. And in the south of the depression, a new lake was formed, which was discovered and described by Przhevalsky.

In early July, the expedition returned to Ghulja. Przhevalsky was pleased: he studied Lobnor, discovered Altyntag, described a wild camel, even got its skins, collected collections of flora and fauna.

Here, in Ghulja, letters and a telegram were waiting for him, in which he was instructed to continue the expedition without fail.

During the travel of 1876-1877, Przhevalsky traveled a little over four thousand kilometers in Central Asia - he was prevented by the war in Western China, the aggravation of relations between China and Russia and his illness: unbearable itching all over his body. And yet this journey was marked by two major geographical discoveries - the lower reaches of the Tarim with a group of lakes and the Altyntag ridge.

Having rested, Przhevalsky in March 1879 began the journey, which he called the "First Tibetan". From Zaisan, he headed southeast, past Ulungur Lake and along the Urungu River to its upper reaches, crossed the Dzungarian Gobi - "a vast wavy plain" - and determined its size.

During this journey, he traveled about eight thousand kilometers and surveyed more than four thousand kilometers through the regions of Central Asia. For the first time he explored the upper course of the Yellow River (Huang He) for more than 250 kilometers; discovered the Semenov and Ugutu-Ula ridges. Described two new species of animals - the Przewalski's horse and the pika-eating bear. His assistant, Roborovsky, collected a huge botanical collection: about 12 thousand plant specimens - 1,500 species. Przhevalsky outlined his observations and research results in the book "From Zaisan through Hami to Tibet and the Upper Yellow River" (1883). The result of his three expeditions were fundamentally new maps of Central Asia.

Soon he submits to the Russian Geographical Society a project on the study of the origins of the Huang He.

In November 1883, the next, already the fourth trip of Przhevalsky began.

In two years, a huge path has been covered - 7815 kilometers, almost completely without roads. On the northern border of Tibet, a whole mountainous country with majestic ranges was discovered - nothing was known about them in Europe. The sources of the Huang He have been explored, large lakes have been discovered and described - Russian and Expeditions. New species of birds, mammals and reptiles, as well as fish appeared in the collection, and new species of plants appeared in the herbarium.

In 1888, the last work of Przhevalsky "From Kyakhta to the sources of the Yellow River" was published. In the same year, Przhevalsky organized a new expedition to Central Asia. They reached the village of Karakol, near the eastern shore of Issyk-Kul. Here Przhevalsky fell ill with typhoid fever. He died November 1, 1888.

A modest inscription is inscribed on the gravestone: "Traveler N. M. Przhevalsky." So he promised. In 1889 Karakol was renamed Przhevalsk.

Przhevalsky only in very rare cases used his right to discover, almost everywhere retaining local names. As an exception, "Lake Russkoe", "Lake Expeditions", "Mount Monomakh's Hat" appeared on the map.

Used materials from the site http://100top.ru/encyclopedia/

Stalin's illegitimate father?..

Przhevalsky Nikolai Mikhailovich (1839-1888). Russian traveler, honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1878). Major General. In 1870-1885. - Member of four expeditions to Central Asia. They say that Stalin outwardly resembles Przhevalsky, that Przhevalsky spent two years before the birth of Stalin in Gori, that Przhevalsky had an illegitimate son, whom he helped financially ... Probably, numerous rumors are connected with this that N.M. Przhevalsky is the father of I. Dzhugashvili (Stalin). Commenting on these rumors, G.A. Egnatashvili, who knew Stalin's family well, says: “Incredible stupidity. I recently read about it somewhere too. Say, Ekaterina Georgievna worked in the hotel where Przhevalsky lived, then for money he married her to Vissarin Dzhugashvili in order to save her from shame ... Yes, she did not work in any hotel! She washed, served and helped with the housework for my grandfather. For as long as I can remember, legends have been circulating around Stalin one after another - whose son is he? So what, that two, one and a half years before the birth of Stalin, Przhevalsky lived in Gori? ... So, he is his father ?! The most perfect fluff. You know that in Georgia everything is very serious and strict on this matter. And you can’t hide sin among the people, there are a lot of long-livers, and then we had so many Mensheviks, and even these fragments of nobles, and they would not miss an opportunity to gloat! oh-oh-oh!..” (Loginov V. My Stalin // Spy. 1993. No. 2. P. 39-40).

According to I. Nodia, even during the life of Stalin, “when people disappeared for any word spoken about him, they freely told that he was the illegitimate son of the great Przhevalsky. These unprovable stories could appear only with the highest approval ... This was not only Stalin's hatred for his drunken father, but also the state interest. He has already become the king of all Rus' and instead of an illiterate Georgian drunkard he wanted to have a noble Russian father.

In fact, there is no reliable evidence that N.M. Przhevalsky at the right time was in Georgia or even in the Caucasus.1 In this sense, another general, A.M. Przhevalsky (the brother of the scientist), who really visited the Caucasus, and in 1917 commanded the Caucasian Front in the First World War.

Notes

1 E. Radzinsky claims that N.M. Przhevalsky came to Gori, however, he does not say when, and does not give a source of information (Radzinsky E. Stalin. M., 1997. P. 27). However, it is known that in 1876-1878. Przhevalsky participated in the second expedition to Central Asia (Lob Nork and Dzhungar travel), and in 1879-1880. - led the first Tibetan expedition.

Materials of the book were used: Torchinov V.A., Leontyuk A.M. around Stalin. Historical and biographical reference book. St. Petersburg, 2000

Compositions:

Mongolia and the country of the Tanguts. A three-year journey to the East. mountainous Asia. M., 1946;

Journey in the Ussuri region 1867-1869. M., 1947;

From Kulja beyond the Tien Shan and to Lop Nor. M., 1947;

From Zaisan through Khami to Tibet and to the headwaters of the Yellow River. M., 1948;

From Kyakhta to the sources of the Yellow River. Research sowing. the outskirts of Tibet and the way through Lop Nor along the Tarim Basin. M., 1948.

Literature:

Gavrilenko V. M. Russian traveler N. M. Przhevalsky. M., 1974;

Myrzaev E. M. N. M. Przhevalsky. Ed. 2nd. M., 1953.

Yusov B.V. N.M. Przhevalsky. M., 1985.

N.M. Przhevalsky (1839-1888)

Przhevalsky Nikolai Mikhailovich- Russian traveler, explorer of Central Asia; honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1878), major general (1886). He led an expedition to the Ussuri region (1867-1869) and four expeditions to Central Asia (1870-1885). For the first time he described the nature of many regions of Central Asia; discovered a number of ranges, basins and lakes in Kunlun, Nanshan and the Tibetan Plateau. Gathered valuable collections of plants and animals; first described a wild camel, a wild horse (Przewalski's horse), a pika-eating bear or a Tibetan bear, etc.

Przhevalsky was born in the village of Kimbory, Smolensk province, on April 12 (March 31 according to the old style), 1839. His father, a retired lieutenant, died early. The boy grew up under the supervision of his mother in the Otradnoye estate. In 1855, Przhevalsky graduated from the Smolensk gymnasium and decided in Moscow as a non-commissioned officer in the Ryazan Infantry Regiment; and having received an officer's rank, he moved to the Polotsk regiment. Przhevalsky, evading revelry, spent all his time hunting, collecting a herbarium, and took up ornithology.

After five years of service, Przhevalsky enters the Academy of the General Staff. In addition to the main subjects, he studies the works of geographers Ritter, Humboldt, Richthofen and, of course, Semenov. In the same place, he prepared a term paper "Military Statistical Review of the Amur Territory", on the basis of which in 1864 he was elected a full member of the Geographical Society.

While serving as a teacher of history and geography at the Warsaw Junker School, Przhevalsky diligently studied the epic of African travels and discoveries, got acquainted with zoology and botany, and compiled a geography textbook.

Travel route in the Ussuri region

Soon he achieved a transfer to Eastern Siberia. In 1867, with the help of Semenov, Przhevalsky received a two-year service business trip to the Ussuri region, and the Siberian Department of the Geographical Society ordered him to study the flora and fauna of the region.

Along the Ussuri, he reached the village of Busse, then to Lake Khanka, which is a station for migratory birds. Here he made ornithological observations. In winter, he explored the South Ussuri region, covering 1060 versts in three months. In the spring of 1868, he again went to Khanka Lake, then pacified the Chinese robbers in Manchuria, for which he was appointed senior adjutant of the headquarters of the troops of the Amur Region. The results of his first trip were the essays "On the foreign population in the southern part of the Amur Region" and "Travel in the Ussuri Territory". About 300 species of plants were collected, more than 300 stuffed birds were made, and many plants and birds were discovered in Ussuri for the first time.

First trip to Central Asia. In 1870, the Russian Geographical Society organized an expedition to Central Asia. Przhevalsky was appointed its head. Together with him, Lieutenant Mikhail Alexandrovich Pyltsov participated in the expedition. Their path lay through Moscow and Irkutsk to Kyakhta, where they arrived in early November 1870, and further to Beijing, where Przhevalsky received travel permission from the Chinese government.

On February 25, 1871, Przhevalsky moved from Beijing north to Dalai-Nur Lake, then, after resting in Kalgan, he explored the Suma-Khodi and Yin-Shan ridges, as well as the course of the Yellow River (Huang He), showing that it does not have a branching, as thought before on the basis of Chinese sources; having passed through the Alashan desert and the Alashan mountains, he returned to Kalgan, having made 3,500 versts in 10 months.

Route of the First Journey in Central Asia

On March 5, 1872, the expedition set out again from Kalgan and moved through the Alashan desert to the Nanshan ranges and further to Lake Kukunor. Then Przhevalsky crossed the Tsaidam basin, overcame the Kunlun ranges and reached the upper reaches of the Blue River (Yangtze) in Tibet.

In the summer of 1873, Przhevalsky, having replenished his equipment, went to Urga (Ulan Bator), through the Middle Gobi, and from Urga in September 1873 he returned to Kyakhta. Przhevalsky traveled more than 11,800 kilometers through the deserts and mountains of Mongolia and China and mapped (on a scale of 10 versts in 1 inch) about 5,700 kilometers.

The scientific results of this expedition amazed contemporaries. Przhevalsky was the first European to penetrate into the deep region of Northern Tibet, to the upper reaches of the Yellow River and the Yangtze (Ulan Muren). And he determined that Bayan-Khara-Ula is the watershed between these river systems. Przhevalsky gave detailed descriptions of the deserts of the Gobi, Ordos and Alashani, the highlands of Northern Tibet and the Tsaidam basin he discovered, for the first time he mapped more than 20 ridges, seven large and a number of small lakes on the map of Central Asia. Przhevalsky's map was not accurate, because due to very difficult travel conditions, he could not make astronomical determinations of longitudes. This significant defect was later corrected by himself and other Russian travelers. He collected collections of plants, insects, reptiles, fish, and mammals. At the same time, new species were discovered that received his name: Przewalski's foot-and-mouth disease, Przewalski's splittail, Przewalski's rhododendron... The two-volume work "Mongolia and the Tangut Country" brought the author world fame and was translated into a number of European languages.

Route of the Second Journey in Central Asia

The Russian Geographical Society awarded Przhevalsky the Big Gold Medal and the "highest" awards - the rank of lieutenant colonel, a lifetime pension of 600 rubles annually. He received the Gold Medal of the Paris Geographical Society. His name was put next to Semyonov Tyan-Shansky, Krusenstern and Bellingshausen, Livingston and Stanley ...

Second trip to Central Asia. In January 1876, Przhevalsky submitted a plan for a new expedition to the Russian Geographical Society. He intended to explore the Eastern Tien Shan, reach Lhasa, explore the mysterious Lop Nor Lake. In addition, Przhevalsky hoped to find and describe the wild camel that lived there, according to Marco Polo.

On August 12, 1876, the expedition set out from Kulja. Having overcome the Tien Shan ranges and the Tarim depression, Przhevalsky reached in February 1877 a huge reed swamp-Lake Lobnor. According to his description, the lake was 100 kilometers long and 20 to 22 kilometers wide.

On the banks of the mysterious Lop Nor, in the "country of Lop", Przhevalsky was second ... after Marco Polo! The lake became, however, the subject of a dispute between Przhevalsky and Richthofen. Judging by the Chinese maps of the early 18th century, Lobnor was not at all where Przhevalsky discovered it. In addition, contrary to popular belief, the lake turned out to be fresh, not salty. Richthofen believed that the Russian expedition discovered some other lake, and the true Lop Nor lies to the north.

Akato peak (6048) in the Altyntag ridge. Photo by E.Potapov

Only half a century later, the riddle of Lopnor was finally solved. Lob in Tibetan means "muddy", nor - in Mongolian "lake". It turned out that this swamp-lake changes its location from time to time. On Chinese maps, it was depicted in the northern part of the desert drainless depression Lob. But then the Tarim and Konchedarya rivers rushed south. The ancient Lobnor gradually disappeared, leaving only salt marshes and saucers of small lakes in its place. And in the south of the depression, a new lake was formed, which was discovered and described by Przhevalsky.

In early July 1877, the expedition returned to Ghulja. Przhevalsky was pleased: he studied Lobnor, discovered the Altyntag ridge to the south of the lake, described a wild camel, even got its skins, collected collections of flora and fauna.

Here, in Ghulja, letters and a telegram were waiting for him, in which he was instructed to continue the expedition without fail.

During the travel of 1876-1877, Przhevalsky traveled a little over four thousand kilometers in Central Asia - he was prevented by the war in Western China, the aggravation of relations between China and Russia and his illness: unbearable itching all over his body. And yet this journey was marked by two major geographical discoveries - the lower reaches of the Tarim with a group of lakes and the Altyntag ridge. Illness forced him to return for a while to Russia, where he published his work "From Kulja beyond the Tien Shan and to Lob-Nor".

Route of the Third Journey in Central Asia

Third trip to Central Asia. Having rested, Przhevalsky in March 1879, with a detachment of 13 people, began the journey, which he called the "First Tibetan". From Zaisan, he headed southeast, past Ulungur Lake and along the Urungu River to its upper reaches. In the area of ​​Lake Barkul and the village of Khami, Przhevalsky crossed the easternmost part of the Tien Shan. Then he proceeded through the Gobi desert and reached the ranges of Nanshan and the Tsaidam basin.

On this journey, Przhevalsky sought to cross the Kunlun and Tibet and reach Lhasa. But the Tibetan government did not want to let Przhevalsky into Lhasa, and the local population was so excited that Przhevalsky, having crossed the Tan-La pass and being 250 versts from Lhasa, was forced to retreat and through Nanshan and the Gobi desert in the fall of 1880 he returned to Urga (Ulaanbaatar).

During this journey, he traveled about eight thousand kilometers and surveyed more than four thousand kilometers through the regions of Central Asia. For the first time he explored the upper course of the Yellow River (Huang He) for more than 250 kilometers; discovered the Semenov and Ugutu-Ula ridges. He described two new animal species - the Przewalski's horse and the pika-eating bear or the Tibetan bear. His assistant, Vsevolod Ivanovich Roborovsky, collected a huge botanical collection: about 12 thousand plant specimens - 1500 species. Przhevalsky outlined his observations and research results in the book "From Zaisan through Hami to Tibet and to the upper reaches of the Yellow River". The result of his three expeditions were fundamentally new maps of Central Asia.

Soon he submits to the Russian Geographical Society a project on the study of the origins of the Huang He.

Fourth trip to Central Asia. In 1883, Przhevalsky undertook the fourth trip, at the head of a detachment of 21 people. This time he is accompanied by Petr Kuzmich Kozlov, for whom this expedition will be the first trip to Central Asia.

From Kyakhta, Przhevalsky moved through Urga on his way back from the third expedition - he crossed the Gobi Desert and reached Nanshan. To the south of Nanshan, he entered the easternmost part of the Kunlun, where he explored the sources of the Yellow River (Huang He) and the watershed between the Yellow River and the Blue (Yangtze), and from there passed through the Qaidam Basin to the Altyntag Range. Then he went along the Kunlun to the Khotan oasis, turned north, crossed the Takla-Makan desert and returned to Karakol through the Tien Shan. The journey ended only in 1886.

In three years, a huge path has been covered - 7815 kilometers, almost completely without roads. On the northern border of Tibet, a whole mountainous country of Kunlun was discovered with majestic ridges - nothing was known about them in Europe. The sources of the Huang He have been explored, large lakes have been discovered and described - Russian and Expeditions. New species of birds, mammals and reptiles, as well as fish appeared in the collection, and new species of plants appeared in the herbarium. In 1888, the last work of Przhevalsky "From Kyakhta to the sources of the Yellow River" was published.

Route of the Fourth Journey in Central Asia

The Academy of Sciences and scientific societies around the world welcomed Przewalski's discoveries. The Zagadochny Ridge discovered by him is called the Przhevalsky Ridge. His greatest merit is the geographical and natural-historical study of the Kuenlun mountain system, the ranges of Northern Tibet, the Lop Nor and Kukunor basins and the sources of the Yellow River. In addition, he discovered a number of new forms of animals: a wild camel, a Przewalski's horse, a Tibetan bear or a pika-eating bear, a number of new species of other mammals, as well as huge zoological and botanical collections containing many new forms described later by specialists. Being a well-educated naturalist, Przhevalsky was at the same time a born wanderer who preferred a lonely steppe life to all the benefits of civilization. Thanks to his persistent, resolute nature, he overcame the opposition of the Chinese government and the resistance of local residents, sometimes reaching an open attack.

Having finished processing the fourth trip, Przhevalsky was preparing for the fifth. In 1888, he moved through Samarkand to the Russian-Chinese border, where, while hunting in the valley of the Kara-Balta River, after drinking river water, he contracted typhoid fever. Even on the way to Karakol, Przhevalsky felt unwell, and upon arrival in Karakol, he fell completely ill. A few days later, on November 1 (October 20 according to the old style), 1888, he died - according to the official version, from typhoid fever. He was buried on the shore of Lake Issyk-Kul.

A monument was erected on the grave of Przhevalsky according to the drawing by A. A. Bilderling. A modest inscription is inscribed on the monument: "Traveler N. M. Przhevalsky." So he promised.

Another monument, also designed by Bilderling, was erected by the Geographical Society in the Alexander Garden in St. Petersburg.

In 1889 Karakol was renamed Przhevalsk. In Soviet times, a museum dedicated to the life of Przhevalsky was organized near the grave.

Przhevalsky only in very rare cases used his right to discover, almost everywhere retaining local names. As an exception, "Russian Lake", "Expedition Lake", "Mount Monomakh's Hat", "Russian Ridge", "Tsar Liberator Mountain" appeared on the map.

Literature

1. N.M. Przhevalsky. Trips. M., Detgiz, 1958

2. N.M. Przhevalsky. Journey in the Ussuri region 1867-1869

Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky was born on March 31 (April 12), 1839, in the family of a small landowner in the Smolensk province, in the village of Kimborovo. The ancestor of Przhevalsky on the paternal side was a brave Zaporozhian Cossack. Maternal grandfather is a landless serf. During military service, thanks to his abilities, he served the rank and acquired not only liberty, but also the nobility. When he retired, he bought the Kimborovo estate, where the future famous traveler was born. His father, a disabled officer, died when N. M. Przhevalsky was seven years old, and his brother was six. The family lived on the estate, the funds from which were barely enough to raise two children. “I grew up in the village as a savage,” said N. M. Przhevalsky. “The upbringing was the most Spartan.” Smolensk forests were the first school of an inquisitive boy. From childhood he fell in love with nature. First, with a toy gun that shot acorns, then with a bow, and from the age of 12, with a real hunting rifle, he loved to walk through the dense Smolensk forests.

The nurse's tales aroused the boy's interest in the mysterious, unknown world. From the age of 8, N. Przhevalsky learned to read and write and eagerly read everything he came across. Sometimes scattered issues of Otechestvennye Zapiski, Sovremennik, and other publications accidentally fell into his hands.

From the age of 10, N. Przhevalsky was sent to study at the Smolensk gymnasium. He soon became her first successful student. But the gymnasium gave him little knowledge. He later recalled: “Although I finished my course at the Smolensk Gymnasium excellently, I will say, truly, I learned too little from there. A significant number of subjects and a bad teaching method made it absolutely impossible, even with a strong desire, to study anything positively. Selection teachers, with a few exceptions, was impossible; they came to the classroom drunk, scolded the students, allowed them to be pulled by the hair. Of the teachers, one teacher stood out in this regard. In his class, fifteen people were constantly on their knees "( N. M. Przhevalsky. From autobiography. Archive of the All-Union Geographical Society of the USSR).

After graduating from the gymnasium, N. M. Przhevalsky, impressed by the heroic deeds of the defenders of Sevastopol, decided to enter the military service. He was sent to the Ryazan Infantry Regiment. Once in the army environment of those years, Nikolai Mikhailovich experienced bitter disappointment. "Most of them are scoundrels, drunkards, gamblers," he wrote to his mother about the cadets with whom he served.

On November 24, 1856, Przhevalsky was promoted to warrant officer and sent to the Polotsk infantry regiment, stationed in the city of Bely, Smolensk province.

The only consolation for Przhevalsky was the study of nature. During his service, he collected a herbarium of those plants that grew in the areas where the regiment was stationed. He devoted a lot of time to hiking in forests and swamps. This gave him the idea of ​​traveling. He repeatedly said: "I must certainly go on a journey." To this end, Nikolai Mikhailovich begins to carefully study the works of famous scientists in botany, zoology, and geography. This was the beginning of the heyday of Russian natural science, the time of I. M. Sechenov, V. O. Kovalevsky, P. M. Mechnikov, K. A. Timiryazev, who stood on the positions of materialism and evolutionary doctrine.

Mentally returning to the past years, he realized that they (especially the years of service in the army) gave him very little knowledge to achieve his goal. Subsequently, he wrote that, after serving five years in the army, having dragged himself into the guards and through all kinds of guardhouses and shooting with a platoon, he finally clearly realized the need to change this way of life and choose a more extensive field of activity where one could spend labor and time for a reasonable goals.

N. M. Przhevalsky submits a petition to the authorities to transfer him to the Amur. The answer was very peculiar - arrest for three days.

Then N. M. Przhevalsky decides to enter the Academy of the General Staff in order to achieve an appointment in Eastern Siberia upon graduation. An excellent memory, purposefulness of preparation, which sometimes took 16 hours a day, allowed him to brilliantly pass the entrance exams. He was enrolled in the number of students of the Academy of the General Staff in St. Petersburg.

Within the walls of the academy, N. M. Przhevalsky wrote his first literary work, "Memories of a Hunter", which was published in the journal "Hunting and Horse Breeding".

Soon, N. M. Przhevalsky felt that the military sciences were of little interest to him, but history, natural science, and geography were more and more fascinated. During the transition to the second year of the academy, he took the Amur Territory as the theme of his essay. When writing the essay, he used the works of famous researchers of the Amur region R. K. Maak, K. I. Maksimovich and others. For comparison, he attracted works on general geography. In conclusion, he expressed interesting thoughts about the geographical position of the region and its features.

A well-known economist at that time, statistician and publicist Academician V.P. Bezobrazov presented Przhevalsky's work "Military Statistical Review of the Primorsky Territory" to the Russian Geographical Society. On February 5 (17), 1864, N. M. Przhevalsky was elected a full member of this society.

After graduating from the academy, N. M. Przhevalsky was appointed adjutant to the commander of the Polotsk Infantry Regiment. At the end of 1864, he was transferred as a teacher of geography to the Warsaw Junker School. Here N. M. Przhevalsky met the famous ornithologist V. K. Tachanovsky, who taught Nikolai Mikhailovich how to perfectly dissect birds and fill stuffed animals. For the cadets, N. M. Przhevalsky wrote a good "Textbook of General Geography", which for a long time served as a guide for educational institutions in Russia and many foreign countries.

N. M. Przhevalsky again submits a report on the transfer to Siberia. While waiting for an answer, he carefully prepares for future travels. Finally a positive response was received. At the end of January 1867, on his way to Siberia, N. M. Przhevalsky stopped in St. Petersburg and turned to the Geographical Society with a request to organize a trip to Central Asia, but was refused. P.P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky, at that time the chairman of the Department of Physical Geography, explained the reason for this first failure in this way: “N.M. The Council of the Society did not dare to organize an entire expedition under his leadership.As the chairman of the Department and in the deep conviction that a talented young man could make a wonderful traveler, I, however, tried to approve N. M. both with warm participation and letters of recommendation. .. At the same time, I promised N.M. that if he made any interesting trips and research in the Ussuri region at his own expense, by which he would prove his ability to travel and geographical research, then, upon returning from Siberia, he could hope that the Society will organize a more serious expedition to Central Asia under his leadership" ( P. P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky. Speech delivered at an extraordinary meeting of the Russian Geographical Society on November 9, 1888. Collection "In memory of Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky". SPb., 1890, p. 17).

With him to the Far East, N.M. Przhevalsky took a large number of books, letters of recommendation to the chairman of the Siberian Department of the Russian Geographical Society, General B.K. In May 1867, Przhevalsky was sent on his first trip to the river. Ussuri. As his assistant, he chose the topographer of the headquarters of the sixteen-year-old Yagunov, the son of a poor exiled villager, whom he taught to remove and dissect animal skins, dry plants and perform other traveler duties. On May 23, 1867, N. M. Przhevalsky wrote to his friend Fateev: “In three days I am going to the Amur, from there to the Ussuri River, Khanka Lake and to the shores of the Great Ocean, to the borders of Korea ...

Yes! An enviable share and a difficult duty fell on me - to explore areas in most of which the foot of an educated European had not yet set foot.

On May 26, 1867, travelers from Irkutsk set off through Transbaikalia to the Amur. On behalf of the headquarters of the troops, N. M. Przhevalsky had to explore the paths leading to the borders of Manchuria and Korea, collect information about those living along the river. Ussuri aborigines.

In addition, he set himself the task of examining the structure of the earth's surface of the Ussuri Territory, studying its climate, flora and fauna, and getting acquainted with the life and crafts of the population.

The journey to Blagoveshchensk took about 2 months.

At the Khabarovsk pier, N. M. Przhevalsky bought a boat and took rowers in shifts in each Cossack village. He himself, along with Yagunov, walked along the river bank, collected plants, shot birds. The traveler entered all the necessary comments in the travel diary. The industriousness of the "master" officer surprised the Cossacks. Once the old Cossack, seeing that Nikolai Mikhailovich did not sleep for a long time and dried the plants, sighed and said with participation:

"Oh, the service, the royal service, she does a lot of care for the masters!"

The way from Khabarovsk to the village. Busse N. M. Przhevalsky passed in 23 days.

With the first rays of the sun, the expedition continued its voyage along the river. Ussuri. The experienced look of N. M. Przhevalsky noticed everything new that met on the way. He was especially struck by the Far Eastern nature.

On trips across the expanses of the Ussuri Territory, N. M. Przhevalsky met with the natives of this region - the Golds, Orochs, and Taz. He visited their camps, observed fishing with the help of a prison, hunting for wild goats during their crossing of the rivers.

A certain interest in Nikolai Mikhailovich was caused by ancient monuments on the territory of Primorye. In his diaries, he carefully noted all the places where he made archaeological finds. He later used some materials in his book, N. M. Przhevalsky described the ancient settlement near the village of Nikolskoye (now the city of Ussuriysk) and suggested that future archaeological excavations "will shed great light on this subject and explain to us the dark history of this country, which has long been a place of bloody clashes..." ( N. Przhevalsky. Journey in the Ussuri region 1867-1869 M., 1937, p. 67).

A great impression on Nikolai Mikhailovich was made by the water expanses of Lake. Khanka and the first Russian settlements on its banks. The peasants went with the conviction to develop these lands, they said: "God willing, we will settle down, we will get better, there will be plenty of everything, so we will make Russia here!"

N. M. Przhevalsky spent the whole of August on the banks of the Khanka - he collected plants, hunted birds and animals, and made meteorological observations three times a day. In early September, the detachment moved further south and to the coast of the Sea of ​​Japan. Przhevalsky spent about a month on the shores of Posyet Bay. Here he met Koreans who fled from the cruel oppression of the feudal lords and hunger and found refuge in neighboring Russia. He wanted to get acquainted with the life and customs of this people in her homeland. For this purpose, he went to the Korean border town of Kygen-Pu. With him were three rowers and an interpreter. He was immediately surrounded by Koreans, who looked at the Russians with curiosity. The approaching policemen ordered N. M. Przhevalsky to return back to Russia. But Nikolai Mikhailovich asked for a meeting with the head of the town. From him, the researcher tried to find out some geographical information about Korea, but did not receive an answer. Seeing the futility of further conversations, N. M. Przhevalsky left the territory of the Korean state and returned back to the Novgorod post on the shore of Posyet Bay.

After that, he decided to visit the hinterland of the Ussuri region. Together with Yagunov and two soldiers, Nikolai Mikhailovich set off on a path that no European had passed before him. Frosts have begun. We often spent the night right on the snow. To make entries in the diary, it was necessary to heat the ink on the fire. The detachment met the New Year in the taiga, among deep snows. In his diary, N. M. Przhevalsky wrote: “In many places they will remember me today in Europe and, probably, not a single fortune-telling, the most correct one, will tell where I am now. I probably don’t know these places where I climbed and the devil himself.

On January 7, 1868, the expedition completed the winter crossing along the coast of the Sea of ​​Japan, along the river. Tadushi (Mirror), crossed the Sikhote-Alin ridge and along the rivers Lifudzina (Rudnaya), Daubikha (Arsenievka) reached the river. Ussuri near the village of Busse. She traveled a winter path of 1,100 kilometers along a pack trail.

On mid-February 8, Nikolai Mikhailovich went to the lake. Khanka, where he spent the spring and watched the mass flight of birds, the love dances of Japanese cranes, the lotus blossom.

But the fruitful studies of N. M. Przhevalsky were interrupted by an attack by an armed gang of hunghuz on southern Primorye. Khunhuzi killed defenseless residents, burned three Russian villages, two posts. N. M. Przhevalsky took an active part in the defeat of this gang, for which he was promoted to captain and appointed senior adjutant of the headquarters of the troops of the Primorsky region in the city of Nikolaevsk-on-Amur. And he writes again: "Vodka and cards, cards and vodka - that's the motto of the local society." In his spare time, N. M. Przhevalsky processed the materials collected by the expedition. He wrote an article about the peoples of Primorye, which was published in the Izvestia of the Siberian Department of the Russian Geographical Society. Finally, in February 1869, Nikolai Mikhailovich received permission to return to his research. He again spent the spring of this year on the lake. Khanka. In the summer he studied the valleys of the rivers flowing into the lake. The ego was at the same time parting with the Ussuri region. “Farewell, the whole Ussuri region!” Nikolai Mikhailovich wrote. “Perhaps I will no longer see your endless forests, majestic waters, but memories of the happy days of wandering life will forever be connected with your name for me.”

Two years of wandering were a kind of "travel exam". N. M. Przhevalsky brilliantly withstood it. He first studied and described the western and southern coasts of Lake. Khanka, and it acquired a true shape on the map. Crossed the Sikhote-Alin ridge twice. Part of the way Nikolai Mikhailovich put on the map.

In St. Petersburg, N. M. Przhevalsky was greeted as a researcher who made a significant contribution to the study of nature, life and life of the population of the Ussuri Territory. His lectures usually ended with an outburst of applause. For an article on the population of Primorye, the Geographical Society awarded him a Small Silver Medal.

N. M. Przhevalsky continued to work on the book "Journey in the Ussuri Taiga", which was published in early August 1870 and brought him fame. In addition, he writes articles for magazines on various topics.

Nikolai Mikhailovich was the first comprehensive researcher of the region. In his book, he revealed the vices of the tsarist government's resettlement policy, the bureaucratic attitude of the tsarist administration in the Far East towards the settlers, the predatory nature of the exploitation of the natural resources of Primorye by Chinese otkhodniks. This work, written in a good literary language, expanded the knowledge of readers and many scientists about the Far East.

In 1870, with the assistance of the Russian Geographical Society, N. M. Przhevalsky went on a trip to Central Asia.

On November 17 (29) the camel expedition set off from the city of Kyakhta. His assistant was Lieutenant M.A. Polltsoy. Travelers walked most of the way. The path lay through the city of Urga (now Ulaanbaatar), the vast Gobi Desert, Beijing. From there, through Ordos, Alashan, Gobi and the mountains of Nanshan, N. M. Przhevalsky went to the upper reaches of the Huang He and Yangtze rivers, and then to Tibet. Then he crossed the Gobi, central Mongolia and returned to Kyakhta. The expedition lasted almost three years, 12 thousand kilometers were covered. Subsequently, N. M. Przhevalsky wrote about his comrades - M. A. Pyltsov, the Cossack Panfil Chebaev and the Buryat Dondok Irinchinov: "In a terrible distance from our homeland ... we lived as brothers, shared labors and dangers, sorrow and joy. And to the grave I will keep a grateful memory of my companions, who, with boundless courage and devotion to the cause, determined the entire success of the expedition as well as possible "( N. M. Przhevalsky. Mongolia and the Tangut Country M, 1946, p. 178). There was not enough money, food and especially water when crossing the desert. On the way, Poltsov fell ill with typhus, but the expedition continued on its way. Meeting the new one, in 1373, N. M. Przhevalsky wrote: “The deprivations are terrible, but they must be endured in the name of the great goal of the expedition. Yes, will we have enough strength and will to complete this glorious work completely - this is the best wish that we bring to ourselves on New Year" ( Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky. Biographical sketch. Compiled by N. F. Dubrovin. SPb., 1890, p. 167). All travelers had enough strength and skill. As a result of this expedition, about 6 thousand kilometers were mapped, the heights of the passes were measured, and the locations of the villages were established. As a result, major changes were made to the map of Central Asia - 23 ridges, 7 large lakes, 17 small lakes were plotted. In addition, the richest collections of birds, mammals, 11 species of fish, more than 3,000 insects, about 4,000 plants and a small collection of rock samples were collected.

The most friendly attitude of N. M. Przhevalsky to the local population should be especially emphasized. The traveler paved his way not with a cross and a bullet, but with an attentive attitude, with the help of medicines, he won the hearts of people. For the successful cure of patients with malaria, the Dungans called N. M. Przhevalsky the great doctor.

N. M. Przhevalsky wrote: "And I'm sure that it will take a few years, as the legend of our journey in these countries will turn into a legend, adorned with various fictions of fantasy" ( N. M. Przhevalsky. Monologue and the country of the Tanguts. M., 1946, p. 244).

For the first brilliant study of Central Asia, the Russian Geographical Society awarded N. M. Przhevalsky with a large gold medal. The Berlin Geographical Society elected him a corresponding member, the International Geographical Congress in Paris sent him a Certificate of Honor, the Parisian Geographical Society - a gold medal, the French Ministry of Public Education - the medal "Palm of the Academy". He outlined the results of his travels in the book "Mongolia and the country of the Tanguts". The first volume of it is devoted to the description of the journey, the second contained materials on zoology. Soon after the publication, the book attracted the attention of geographers and ethnographers with its materials and discoveries, vivid pictures of the life and way of life, economy and social organization of many peoples of Central Asia - the Mongols, Tanguts, Dungans, etc. The book was translated into many languages ​​of the world.

Meanwhile, N. M. Przhevalsky was preparing for his next trip. On August 12 (24), 1876, with nine companions, he set off on his second journey through Central Asia - Lob Norskoye (1876-1877). The path passed from Kulja up the banks of the Ili, Tarim rivers and to the mysterious lake. Lobnor. On the way, a mountain range was discovered and explored, called Altyntag by the local population. Przhevalsky determined that it stretches for 500 kilometers and represents the front ledge of the Tibetan Plateau. N. M. Przhevalsky put forward the hypothesis of the formation of Lake. Lobnor and the reasons for the shallowing of the river. Tarim. He came to the conclusion that the Lobnor is the result of the runoff of the river. Tarim.

The Lop Nor expedition was very difficult. Przhevalsky's health deteriorated. He had a sore throat, right side, itching of the skin began.

Further, the expedition was to go to Tibet in Lhasa. But it was impossible to continue the journey due to lack of water. In addition, complications in Russian-Chinese relations interfered. It was decided to change the route and return to Ghulja. The expedition did a great job: the location of seven geographical points was determined, the height of the pass was measured, 1,300 kilometers of distance were photographed by eye, a rich herbarium was collected, valuable collections of birds, animals, including the skins of four wild camels, known only from the reports of Marco Polo. Information about the population of this area was of great importance.

Przhevalsky outlined the results of his second Central Asian journey in the book "From Kulja beyond the Tien Shan and to Lop Nor". A brief report, published by him earlier in the Izvestia of the Russian Geographical Society, was translated into German and English. The Berlin Geographical Society awarded N. M. Przhevalsky the Alexander Humboldt Big Gold Medal, and the London Geographical Society in 1879 - the Royal Medal. He was elected an honorary member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Botanical Garden. This meant the world recognition of Przhevalsky as the greatest traveler and scientist.

Returning from the expedition, Nikolai Mikhailovich immediately began preparations for a new trip to Tibet.

On March 21, 1879, he again set off from the Zaisan post with a detachment of 13 people. 35 camels moved in the caravan chain. The path lay to the cherished goal - Tibet. The expedition went through the steppes and deserts of Dzungaria. While studying flora and fauna, she discovered a wild horse, later named the Przewalski's horse. Further, the path passed through the Nanshan mountain range. In the western part of it, two high snow ridges were discovered, which were called the Humboldt and Ritter ridges.

The difficulties of the campaign were aggravated by the fact that Chinese officials refused to sell food to travelers and did not provide guides. But soon the expedition reached the big Tibetan road leading to Lhasa.

Along the way, another unknown ridge was discovered, named after Marco Polo, an Italian traveler. We climbed the icy path to the pass of the Thangla Range. On November 7 (19), 1879, the detachment was suddenly attacked by the nomadic North Tibetan Agrai tribe, which usually robbed caravans going to Lhasa. This and subsequent attacks were repulsed. It seemed that now the way to the heart of Tibet was open. But 250 kilometers from the capital, the expedition was met by the envoys of the Dalai Lama, who handed over a written order forbidding N. M. Przhevalsky to visit Lhasa, since he belonged to a different faith.

“So,” N. M. Przhevalsky wrote bitterly, “we did not manage to reach Lhasa: human ignorance and barbarism put insurmountable obstacles to it! overcome, and the probability of achieving the goal has already turned into the certainty of success.

The caravan started back again. But now the camels and horses were exhausted and exhausted from the journey, the people were tired. Of the 35 camels, only 13 completed the transition. On January 31 (February 12), 1880, the expedition returned to Dzun.

After a short rest, N. M. Przhevalsky went to the river. Huang He and studied it for 3 months. From here he went to the lake. Kukunor, found that 25 rivers flow into it, plotted the outlines of the lake and its dimensions on the map. Then the detachment returned through the Alashan and Gobi desert to the city of Kyakhta. In total, 7200 kilometers were covered, the outlines of the Nanshan and Kunlun mountain systems were determined, the locations of 23 geographical points were determined, 5 small lakes were discovered in the area of ​​Tsaidam and Syrtym. N. M. Przhevalsky discovered new species of plants and animals, collected large collections. The road to Lhasa was also opened.

N. M. Przhevalsky outlined the results of his third trip to Central Asia in the book “From Zaisan through Hami to Tibet”. It has been translated into many Western European languages.

The country solemnly welcomed the members of the expedition. The Russian Geographical Society elected N. M. Przhevalsky an honorary member, Moscow University - an honorary doctor of zoology, the cities of Smolensk and St. Petersburg - an honorary citizen. He was also elected an honorary member by the Vienna, Italian, Dresden and many other geographical societies of the world.

But the unknown lands again attracted Przhevalsky and his companions. On October 21 (November 2), 1883, the expedition set off from Kyakhta on their fourth journey through Central Asia. Her goal was the unknown Tibet. The path ran through the Mongolian steppes, the Gobi desert, Alashan, the North Tetung range. Again, despite the obstacles of Chinese officials, N. M. Przhevalsky reached the source of the river. Huang He, which put on the map. Two lakes were discovered here: Jarinnur and Orinnur, through which the river passes. Huanghe.

Then the expedition began to study the Kunlun ridge. Przhevalsky discovered new mountain ranges and lakes. The path lay to the lake. Lobnor, but it was blocked by the Altyntag ridge. A long twelve-day search began for a passage through the ridge. And he was discovered. The inhabitants of Lob-nor warmly welcomed Przhevalsky's expedition. Here the expedition studied the life and way of life of the population, flora and fauna.

From here, the expedition turned to the southwest and discovered an unknown ridge, which they called the Russian ridge. Behind him was discovered and named the Keri Range. The path lay through the Takla Makan desert to the Tien Shan mountains. In 1885 the work was completed at the Bedel mountain pass. This expedition lasted more than two years, 8 thousand kilometers were covered. On October 29 (November 10), 1885, N. M. Przhevalsky issued the last order for the expedition. It said: “We have completed our task to the end - we have passed and explored those areas of Central Asia, in most of which the foot of a European has not yet set foot. Honor and glory to you, comrades! I will tell the whole world about your exploits. Now I embrace each of I thank you for your faithful service - on behalf of the science we serve, and on behalf of the Motherland, which we have glorified" ( Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky. Biographical sketch. Co. staged by N. F. Dubrovin. SPb., 1890, p. 447).

The materials of the fourth journey through Central Asia were of great importance: the Kunlun ranges were studied, the outlines of the Altyntag range were clarified, scientists from various branches of science received materials about this inaccessible part of Asia. By decision of the Academy of Sciences, a gold medal was knocked out in honor of Przhevalsky with the inscription: "To the first researcher of the nature of Central Asia."

By this time, Nikolai Mikhailovich was awarded 8 gold medals, was an honorary member of 24 scientific institutions. After the expedition of N. M. Przhevalsky, white spots on the map of Central Asia disappeared one after another.

Nikolai Mikhailovich outlined the results of his fourth journey in the book "From Kyakhta at the source of the Yellow River, exploration of the northern outskirts of Tibet and the path through Lop Nor along the Tarim Basin", which was published in the summer of 1888.

And by this time the traveler was finishing preparations for the fifth trip to Central Asia. Participants of the expedition were selected, equipment was completed, the necessary documents were received. The main goal of the fifth expedition was to be Lhasa. The entry pass has already been received.

In October 1888, all members of the expedition gathered in Karakol. Here were participants in the repeated campaigns of Przhevalsky V. I. Roborovsky, P. K. Kozlov and others.

But the expedition was not destined to take place. A few days before it began, during the hunt, Przhevalsky got drunk on marsh water and fell ill with typhus. On October 20, 1888, the great traveler, scientist and patriot passed away. He died in the arms of his comrades.

Before his death, Nikolai Mikhailovich bequeathed to complete the studies he had begun and asked: "Bury me on the shore of Issyk-Kul. Make a simple inscription -" Traveler Przhevalsky. " Lie down in a coffin in my expedition clothes." The will was fulfilled.

The coffin was carried on a gun carriage. The attendants were on foot. At the crossroads, the Kirghiz horsemen waited with bare heads. Troops lined up at the grave. On the shore of the lake Issyk-Kul, the coffin with the body of the deceased was lowered into the grave. A high black cross with a small board was erected above it, on which Roborovsky, according to Przhevalsky's will, made a simple inscription.

In 1894, a monumental monument to grateful Russia was solemnly opened here. On a granite rock, spreading three-meter wings, sits a bronze eagle - a symbol of the peaceful aspirations of science. In his beak, an olive branch - gratitude for the labors. A cross is carved in the upper part of the rock, under which there is a mean inscription: "Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky. The first researcher of the nature of Central Asia. Born March 31, 1839, sketch October 20, 1888." In the center of the front part, a large bronze medal of the Academy of Sciences with a bas-relief of a traveler is reproduced.

N. M. Przhevalsky was not the first traveler in the Ussuri region, but he can rightfully be considered the first researcher who gave a comprehensive description of this region ( Foreword - N. M. Przhevalsky. Journey in the Ussuri region 1867-1869. Geografgis, 1947).

The first Russian traveler who climbed 130 kilometers up the Ussuri in 1855 (to the mouth of the Khora River) was K. I. Maksimovich.

The first detailed geographical study of the river. Ussuri was produced by M. I. Venyukov in 1858. Having climbed up the Ussuri to the mouth of the river. Sungachi, Venyukov left aside the lake basin. Khanka and headed further up the Ussuri, then along the river. Lifudzin (Rudnaya) and its tributaries to the harbor of Vladimir. But circumstances did not allow Venyukov to reach the harbor, located only 35 km from him; he was forced to return. Venyukov's journey, which lasted two months, is described by him in the article "Overview of the Ussuri River".

In 1859, on behalf of the Siberian Department of the Geographical Society, the Ussuri Valley was explored by the botanist R.K. Maak and the ethnographer Brylkin. They climbed up the Ussuri, then along the river. Sungache to the post on the lake. Khanka, which was the final destination of the expedition. The journey of Maak and Brylkin lasted four months.

In 1860, K. I. Maksimovich was again sent by the Botanical Garden to the Ussuri Territory. This time he went up the Ussuri to the river. Fujin (Pavlovka), and then crossed the ridge, went to the Gulf of Vladimir, from where he went on a steamer to Posyet.

The geologist and botanist F. B. Schmidt, while studying the Amur Valley and Sakhalin Island, visited the Ussuri Territory in 1861; he crossed it from south to north from Vladivostok to Khabarovsk (up the Suifun (Razdolnaya) to Lake Khanka and further down the Sungache to Ussuri). Schmidt's journey within the Ussuri region lasted about four months.

In 1859-1863. in the Ussuri region, the captain of the corps of foresters A.F. Budischev traveled, who, as a result of the trip, gave a description of the forests of the Primorsky region, published in 1867 in the Notes of the Siberian Department of the Geographical Society.

In 1863-1864. The Ussuri region was visited by mining engineer I. A. Lopatin, who studied coal deposits on the river. Suifun. At the same time, mining engineer Anosov visited Sikhote-Alin and Lake. Khanka. Among the predecessors of Przhevalsky, who studied the Ussuri region from one point of view or another, the naturalist G.I. Radde, who studied mammals and birds of the Far East, and the staff captain G.P. and collected valuable geographic information.

Przhevalsky covered with his routes not only the areas visited by the named travelers, but also places where no researcher had ever been before him.

Oz. Khanka to Przhevalsky was visited by Maak, Schmidt and Budischev, but they all explored only the northern coast, while Przhevalsky studied, in addition, the western and southern sides of the lake, made a measurement of the depths of Siyanhe (Komissarovka), Lefu (Ilistaya) and Mo (Myagulevka) - rivers flowing into the Khanka, and described the nature of their valleys. As a result of the study of Przhevalsky Lake. Khanka has received a new, more rounded shape. He described in detail the nature of the shores of the lake and noted that the southern and eastern shores consist of continuous swamps, which are a continuation of the Sungach lowlands. Przhevalsky was the first to discover and describe the ancient shores of the lake, preserved in the form of ramparts parallel to each other. According to his assumption, in the past, Lake. Khanka was large. Bolshaya and Malaya Khanka, connected by a small channel, were once one pool.

From the southern end of the lake Khanka to Posyet Bay Przhevalsky passed along a new route, and the path from Posyet Bay to the mouth of the river. Tadushi (Mirror), along the coast of the Pacific Ocean, was passed not by sea, as his predecessors did, but by land, along difficult forest paths. Przhevalsky twice crossed the Sikhote-Alin ridge, the main ridge of which "was not visited even by our fur traders," and climbed into such places, which, in his words, "the devil himself does not know." N. M. Przhevalsky surveyed from Nakhodka Bay to the river. Tadushi (Mirror), mapped the eastern slope of the Sikhote-Alin ridge.

Przhevalsky's journey through the Ussuri region differed from expeditions made before him not only in the direction of the routes, but also in the nature of the research.

N. M. Przhevalsky was the first to give a broad geographical description of the Ussuri region, its nature, flora and fauna, climate, as well as the life and activities of local residents and settlers who came here.

Let us point out some results of Przewalski's investigations, which are especially valuable for geography.

Already in the first days of his stay on the Ussuri, Przhevalsky noted a characteristic feature of the nature of the region - a combination of southern and polar forms of flora and fauna ...

Of great interest to science were the collections of animals and plants collected by Przhevalsky in the Ussuri region.

Przhevalsky developed an original way of collecting and preparing collections. He did not hesitate to take plants of large sizes, in contrast to most researchers, who chose only small specimens for convenience. The collected plants were usually dried during halts; drying was done in the sun. Due to the rapid drying, the plants retained the freshness of the colors. The dried samples were placed to their full height on large format paper. The collection had a register, which recorded the place and time of occurrence of this species, as well as information about the soil and distribution. Being well acquainted with the vegetation of European Russia, he collected mainly local Siberian species. Of the European species - only rarely found in Europe.

He, as a passionate hunter, paid special attention to the study of birds, collected on the Ussuri and Lake. Khanka "a one-of-a-kind collection that so fully represented the ornithological fauna of this interesting outskirts of our fatherland that subsequent multiple

the research of Dr. Benedikt Ivanovich Dybovsky only slightly changed and supplemented the results obtained by N. M. Przhevalsky "( From the speech of Academician A. A. Straukh. See "In memory of N. M. Przhevalsky". Ed. IRGO, St. Petersburg, 1889). The study of the "bird world" lake. Khanka Przhevalsky devoted two springs to observing the life and flight of birds, and compiled a list of 76 species of birds migrating north. In total, he counted 224 species in the Ussuri region. Przhevalsky found 36 bird species new to the Ussuri, some of them were unknown to science.

Each stuffed bird or skin of a mammal was labeled with the name of the given species, its size, time and place of capture; for birds, in addition, the color of the eyes, beak and legs, the total length and span of the wings were noted.

During the two years of Przhevalsky's stay in the Ussuri Territory, he collected a collection of 310 stuffed birds, about 300 species of plants (in the amount of 2 thousand copies), 10 mammal skins, 42 species of bird eggs (in the amount of 550 pieces), 83 species of seeds of various plants. The collections taken out of Siberia enriched geographical science.

On Ussuri, Przhevalsky met a new mammal - a black hare and a new plant - a dimorphant.

Much was done by Przhevalsky to study the climate of the Ussuri region.

For 15 months, Przhevalsky made daily meteorological observations. The methodology of these observations, developed during his travels along the Ussuri, was subsequently applied by him in Central Asian expeditions without any special changes. From July 2 to October 25, 1867, observations were made at approximately 6 o'clock in the morning, at noon and at 6 o'clock in the evening (the time was determined by the compass). The meteorological journal had the following columns: date, name of the area, hours of the day at which observations were made, air temperature, state of the atmosphere (cloudiness, precipitation, etc.), wind direction and notes where fogs, thunderstorms, thunder strikes, snow cover, frost and other natural phenomena.

Comparing the local climate with the climate of the regions of Europe corresponding in latitude, Przhevalsky notes the harsh nature of the Ussuri climate. He compares the average annual temperature in Ussuri with that in Petrozavodsk, Vologda and Kazan, which lie 10-15° north, and indicates that even Arkhangelsk, which lies much north of Ussuri, has a higher average winter temperature. Notes severe and constant cold in the first spring months. The summer climate, according to his description, is a mixture of continental and maritime, with frequent fogs, especially on the eastern slope of the Sikhote-Alin.

Studying the climate of the Ussuri region, Przhevalsky comes to the conclusion that this country, despite its coastal position, has a much more continental than maritime climate. Przhevalsky explains the peculiar climate of the Ussuri Territory by the influence of the sea, the direction of the prevailing winds, the location of mountain ranges and the “uncultivated country”, replete with swamps and dense forests.

Przhevalsky was the first to extensively explore and describe the economy of the region. The reader will find in the book detailed descriptions of agriculture, crafts, transport, life and life of the population. Przhevalsky is struck by the colossal wealth of the Ussuri region. "Live where you like, plow where you know, there is plenty of forest too, there are plenty of fish and every kind of animal; what else do you need?" - says the author through the mouth of one of the inhabitants. But all these riches were used predatory. Describing, for example, the mushroom industry, which consists of picking mushrooms growing on rotten trees, Przhevalsky notes that the resident, having exterminated all the surrounding oaks in “five or six years, migrated to another, still untouched place. Again he cut down the oak forest here .. In this way, beautiful oak forests were exterminated methodically ... It is sad to see entire mountain slopes bare and completely littered with the rotting remains of former oaks.

The situation was no better in other industries. So, for the "convenience" of hunting animals, the population set fire to high dried grass, and often the forest caught fire along with the grass.

The rivers and lakes of the region harbored a fabulous amount of fish, but fishing was almost undeveloped.

Despite the high fertility of the soil in the Ussuri Territory, crops did not give proper yields, and often, due to ignorance of natural conditions, arable land was chosen unsuccessfully and the crops died completely. “Since spring, bread always grows tall, thick, and then either it will be flooded with water, or it will rot with rain, or a worm will eat, and as a result, you can not get any harvest,” the residents said.

The famous traveler P. A. Kropotkin, who studied the economic situation of the Ussuri Cossacks two years before Przhevalsky’s trip, proposed some measures to improve the situation of the population, but “the practical implementation of the planned measures,” wrote Kropotkin, “instructed the old drunkard who taught the Cossacks to farming with rods And so it went everywhere, from the Winter Palace to the Ussuri Territory and Kamchatka "( Quoted from the book by S. Anisimov "Travels of P. A. Kropotkin". M.-L., 1943).

Describing the plight of the population of the Ussuri region, Przhevalsky did not see the root causes of such a situation associated with the socio-economic system of tsarist Russia, but his detailed descriptions of the economy and life of the local residents gave the first impartial assessment of the economy of the region.

The authorities did not like this truthful description, and when Przhevalsky submitted his report “On the results of research on the Ussuri River and Lake Khanka,” he had to hear the following remark from the commander: “I read the entire report, but I know without you what is here, i.e., in this region, it’s bad.” "These words," Nikolai Mikhailovich wrote, "made a depressing impression on me."

Traveling in the Ussuri region was for Przhevalsky a practical school for subsequent expeditions. The wild, diverse nature of Primorye with sharp climate changes has developed in it perseverance, a strong character and courage.

The traveler repeatedly recalled the Ussuri region in distant places in Central Asia. Thus, describing the forests of the Gansu Province, he compares them with the forests of the Amur Territory. "Tall slender trees, dense shrubs, often rallied into impenetrable thickets, various flowers - all this vividly reminded me of the luxurious forest nature of the Amur Territory" ( N. M. Przhevalsky. Mongolia and the country of the Tanguts. Geografgis, 1947, p. 204).

Comparison of the nature of the Ussuri region and Central Asia is not a simple "memories" of places familiar to Przhevalsky from his first travels. He perfectly used such comparisons to characterize the geographical features of the territories he explored. Describing, for example, Lobnor, Przhevalsky makes a vivid comparison of this lake with Lake. Khanka. "The gross migration of water birds on Lobnor continues in the spring for two weeks or so. During this period, ducks and geese appear here in such huge numbers that I have seen during the spring migration only on Lake Khanka in the Ussuri Territory. But there the country is completely different, therefore, the picture of the spring life of birds is different. In general, they are incomparably more free on Khanka than on the deserted Lop Nor. Here, only out of need, for lack of anything better, feathered wanderers herd, waiting until the ice and snow of our Siberia begin to melt at least a little. not in an instant the whole mass of water birds will flee from Lopnor to the north" ( N. M. Przhevalsky. From Kyakhta to the sources of the Yellow River, exploration of the northern outskirts of Tibet and the path through Lop Nor along the Tarim Basin. St. Petersburg, 1888).

The value of the geographical material collected by N. M. Przhevalsky, its valuable conclusions and comparative characteristics, together with the liveliness of the description of Journey in the Ussuri Territory, immediately received general recognition and a positive assessment. Already in the first review of this book, placed in the Izvestia of the Siberian Department of the Russian Geographical Society in 1870, it was written: a naturalist, the author brought into his work everything that nature and man provided him with observation in the region he visited.It is especially pleasant to see with what severity the author treats phenomena from the life of nature and enters into his book only what he has seen and verified.

Only the author's invincible energy can explain how, during official duties, sometimes very serious and requiring labor and time, and with those difficulties that appear in the Ussuri Territory at every step, due to lack of roads, tolerable premises, etc., he could perform so satisfactorily his task as a naturalist" ( Cit. Izv. Siberia. department of the Russian Geographical Society, 1870, v. 1).

Russian traveler Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky went down in history as a tireless explorer of Central Asia, who discovered previously unexplored lands with their unique nature, population and original culture to the Western world. On account of Nikolai Mikhailovich 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 gentry family, and had its own coat of arms, bestowed for valor during military battles.

After graduating from high school, Nikolai began to serve in the Ryazan Infantry Regiment, where he received an officer rank. Unlike most of his colleagues, he spent all his free time not in idle revelry, but on hunting, collecting herbarium, 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, a capable student was elected a full member of the Geographical Society.

Having decided on 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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Acquaintance with the Ussuri region

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

Arriving at the place, Przhevalsky began to closely study the nature of the Ussuri. During the study 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, to make the same number of stuffed birds. Moreover, many exhibits collected by him were discovered for the first time.

Traveling in Central Asia

Przhevalsky's famous travels in Central Asia date back to 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 the passage of 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 upper reaches of the great Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, and carefully explore these territories.
• He presented detailed descriptions of the deserts of Alashani, Ordos and Gobi, the highlands of Northern Tibet.
• He updated the maps of Central Asia, on which he plotted previously unknown ranges, large and small lakes.
• He explored the mysterious lake Lopnor - a muddy freshwater lake that changed its location.
• He discovered the lower reaches of the Tarim and the Altyntag ridge.
• He discovered a whole mountainous country - Kunlun, the existence of which in Europe no one 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 different species, as well as large collections of various Central Asian animals. He discovered new species, which later received his name: rhododendron, split tail, lizard, wild horse.

Rice. 3. Przewalski's horse.

Nikolai Mikhailovich died in 1888, having accidentally swallowed river water and contracted typhoid fever during his trip to Karakol.

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