Brave "Russian Columbus", commander of the Russian fleet - Alexey Chirikov

Good day, dear friends! Today I will tell you about the famous traveler and outstanding Navigator Alexey Ilyich Chirikova.

The man went down in history of our country as an enlightened Russian Navigator and a daring innovator who selflessly performed their duty to the Fatherland.

Many of you surely heard about his famous steamer on which he was trying to find the proverbial land of Giovanni da Gama. It was this man, along with the outstanding Navigator Vitus Bering, who discovered the mysterious shores of America for us.

Alexey Chirikov

Alexey was born in the beginning of XVIII century in the small village of Tula province and since the childhood, listening to stories of experienced seamen dreamed of elements. In 13 years, the dream has come true, he enrolled in the Naval Academy of St. Petersburg).

Peter I himself sends the young man to the Navy and appoints him as an unter-Lieutenant on the battleship "Peter". After successfully passing all the exams, Alex even begins to teach navigation, to the history of Russia in the system of naval education had been amazing (19-year-old teacher).

The first Kamchatka expedition

In December 1724 Peter I issued a decree on the formation of the First Kamchatka expedition, and the chief was appointed captain of the fleet of Vitus Bering and his assistants young and quick-witted lieutenants: Alexei Chirikov and Martin Spanberg. At the Admiralty with the approval of the nomination Chirikov, wrote:

Training Midshipman and naval officers were all skilled.

America's pioneers

So, leaving St. Petersburg, the young man did not even assume that this journey will be delayed for five years, and during this time in the life of a young officer will happen a lot. Bering set him a difficult task: not only to equip the expedition, but also to transport all the convoys to the Eastern outskirts of Russia.

In January 1725, the expedition went on its first ocean voyage, only to those cherished shores had yet to reach. The Braves were as many as 3 years before Nizhnekamchatsk. What only not had to experience these people. Tract, by which it was possible to go on horseback, reaches only to the city of Tobolsk, and then to the Okhotsk sea resembled road directions. Horses were replaced by dog sled, and when and simply on foot, on vessels on unfamiliar rivers.

Supplies of provisions were scanty, the number, the team is constantly freezing and starving. It reached the point that the sailors began to gnaw leather things, many ran away, but of the 34 members of the team 19 still reached the desired ocean expanses and headed North. Over the years Chirikov was a senior Navigator and precocious matured. In Okhotsk built an excellent bot called "Saint Gabriel", which went on his long journey Bering and Chirikov.

layout Bota "Holy Gabriel"

Alex consistently led the ship's log the first Russian naval scientific expedition, which recorded information about the route, accidents, all sorts of creatures, obstacles and successes. Today, that ship's logbook is an important primary source on the history of shipping in Russia. Preserved and a map of the scientific expedition.

map

In those years, the Kamchatka Peninsula, Karaginsky Bay, St. Lawrence island, Provideniya Bay were mapped. This map was highly appreciated by the legendary James cook, and she helped many later. Alexei Ilyich's hand laid the route and outlined the boundaries of the shores of Chukotka and Kamchatka, which became the farthest Islands of the vast country.

Thanks to the activities of Chirikov were described many rivers and shipping conditions, collected information about the cities of Siberia and the Far East, defined more than 60 geographical features and settlements, the map shows the entire North-East coast of Asia, recorded Eclipse of the moon and other natural phenomena.

In early March, 1730 members of the expedition returned to St. Petersburg. A year later, Alexei married and in the second expedition to Kamchatka, he already went with his wife and children. Not every woman even in those years was capable of such selfless actions.

The second Kamchatka expedition

In 1733 the leaders of the second expedition was assigned the familiar people: commander Vitus Bering and captain first rank Aleksey Chirikov. The tasks were huge: to explore the entire coast of Siberia from the White sea to the mouth of the Amur in the sea of Okhotsk, to find a way to Japan and explore "how far America is from Russia...".

Alexei Ilyich without hesitation expressed his willingness to travel. He wanted to check his assumption about "the unknown lands", because they believed that America "is not very far away from the Chukotsky Eastern corner" (and its assumption is justified). Thus, the traveler is largely ahead of foreign geographers.

On the morning of June 1741, the work packages "Saint Apostle Peter" and "Saint Apostle Paul" went into the sea to discover the mysterious and unexplored overseas territories. Vitus Bering was never able to find the shores of America, but Chirikov and his "Holy Apostle Paul" reached the land, which later became known as Baker's island, and it was South of the island of Baranov (Sith).

the island of the Sith

Ships not to lose each other in the fog, kept hitting the bell and fired the guns. But on June 19 it happened, they were lost. The brave and courageous captain Chirikov took a course to the East. A little more than three weeks, the sailors finally saw America. Jubilation knew no bounds. However, it seemed just a group of Islands now known as the Alexander archipelago.

From the unknown shores of the roaring storm at sea. People viewed from the side of the mountains, crowned with eternal snows, and covered the "great forest", heard the roar of the sea lions lying on the banks of the island.

About this fascinating journey interesting wrote Sergei Markov in the book "Earth circle". And skoneczna (shipping) the journal of steamers appeared the following entry:

At 2 a.m. ahead of him he saw the land where the mountains are high, and then it was light, for he lay down on the drift... we the true America, it was considered and the place, the position, length and width.

ships of the expedition

But, it was necessary to rejoice not for long. On langote sailed ashore Navigator Abram Dementiev (pet Chirikov and talented drafter marine drawings), which was tasked to explore the harbour and sketch plan of the area, collect some rock samples and to find a source of fresh water. Ago so no one and not returned, all family and Navigator, and 10 sailors.

The search not provided results, and all sent groups disappeared. Stay to the entire team at this location was not possible, and Chirikov decided to stop the search for the missing and go back.

travel map

Only through the ages, thanks to the research of historian of Alaska — Andrews slightly raised the veil of the disappearance of people (it turned out that they did not perish, and is left to explore those unknown lands). In Sitka tribe even had a legend about people that had been washed ashore many years ago, however, still difficult to say with certainty whether those sailors were discussed.

After years in Yakutat Bay, some travelers were greeted by white-faced and fair-haired people who lived among the Indians. Some have speculated that they were descendants of the missing sailors from the expedition of Chirikov.

In October 1741 the team "Saint Paul" returned to Petropavlovsk Harbor, after which the Chirikov went to the island of Kodiak, and then went to the Aleutian Islands.

This is one of the best harbors in the world, named after the ships of the expedition that winter here Bering and Chirikov. Now here is the largest port of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

picture of Igor Pshenichny "Bering and Chirikov"

Soon to Alexey Chirikov the rank of the captain commander and appointment as the chief of the Moscow office of Admiralty Board was granted.

Report on the results of its navigation is the first in the history of the description of the North-West coast of America. However, these days few people know and have heard about this outstanding person. No doubt Jules Verne was right when he wrote:

While Bering enjoys universal popularity, captain Chirikov is almost forgotten, and his name is little known.

Although today such beauties still surf the seas and oceans. And if you ever manage to swim on them, then surely remember in honor of whom were named these ships.

the ship "Alexey Chirikov"

Russian sailors were the first to discover the mysterious and enigmatic North-West coast of America, The Aleutian ridge, the picturesque commander Islands and denied the myths about the Land of Juan da Gama, which Western European cartographers loved to depict in the North of the Pacific ocean, and science received accurate information about many other geographical objects.

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