Commander Islands are an archipelago, which includes 4 large and 10 small islands.They are located in the south-west of the Bering Sea.It is located in the North Pacific.Bering Sea on the map must be sought between the Far Eastern part of Russia and the US Alaska.According to the administrative division, an archipelago located in the Kamchatka region of the Russian Federation.Few people know, in honor of whom are named Commander Islands.
They are intertwined Russian and Aleut culture.The largest is the formation of Bering Island, which has an elongated from north to south form.It has an area of 1660 square kilometers.Of the four formations island people live only on it.The others remain uninhabited Commander Islands.Russia has a lot of areas with low population density.These islands are just apply to them.
in the village of Nikolskoye on Bering Island is approximately 700 inhabitants.To get to the mainland, they must overcome a few hundred kilometers.On the plane flight is 3 hours and another way to move virtually nonexistent.In winter, the island covered with snow and wind blowing strong currents.In the summer heat pleases locals only occasionally.Mostly dominated by wet weather, heavy fog, often rains.Characteristically sharp change in weather conditions.
first expedition of Vitus Bering
all started with the Russian tsar, who "opened a window to Europe."In the twilight of his reign Peter I took an active part in the creation of new measures to open the northern and eastern areas, as well as pave the maritime routes in the US and Indian lands.At the beginning of 1725, exhausted from serious illnesses, the Russian Tsar has developed instructions for preparatory work "Siberian Expedition", the aim of which was to reach America via the North Sea, the study found there coasts and entering them on the map.
became head of the expedition Vitus Bering, the opening of which will be awesome in the future.Opting for the Dane fell, primarily because of its repeated attempts to reach American shores.However, he failed to pass through the strait, which was later named in his honor, with the result that he returned in 1730 to St. Petersburg.
second expedition of Vitus Bering
in the capital of the Russian Empire Behring reported on his journey to the Government of Anna Ivanovna, as well as new research showed the plan, arguing the importance of studying the northern territories and Siberian coasts, so that you can trade with the North-West of America.
plan received the support of the Danish navigator, resulting in its implementation has been granted substantial funding.That is why Russia was fixed for all opened Behring.Special diligence in the project have made the Senate, the Admiralty and the Academy of Sciences.In 1732 there was a decree of the Senate on the preparation of the second Kamchatka expedition.She went down in history as the Great Northern Expedition.The decree was announced that the expedition is the most distant, with considerable difficulties for the first time implemented.
Great Northern Expedition started in 1733 and ended in 1743.After reviewing its results, you can see who are named in honor of the Commander Islands.The expedition consisted of 7 units, which were independent of each other.On 10 ships accommodated 580 people.The objectives of each unit was to survey a certain area.
Tasks troops
First Squad, who led the lieutenant Stepan ants Mikhail Pavlov, picked their way from Arkhangelsk.He was meant to explore the coastal zone between the Pechora and Ob lip.
second unit, who went from Tobolsk, commanded by Lieutenant Dmitry Ovtsyn.He needed to explore the east coast of the Gulf of Ob to the north end of the Taimyr Peninsula or to Khatanga.
Lieutenant Vasily Pronchishchev led third detachment, whose task was to examine the coast, west of the mouth of the Lena.Together with the Russian officer went swimming in his wife Tatiana.She became the first woman participated in the polar expedition.
squad became the fourth head of Lieutenant Peter Lasinius, after whose death in charge was appointed Dmitry Laptev.The objectives of this group of researchers was to study the eastern coast, which stretches from the mouth of the Lena River to the modern Bering Strait.
At the head of the fifth unit was directly the Bering.It merits of this man in the future will be the answer to the question: "In honor of someone named Commander Islands?".Fifth detachment intended to explore Kamchatka and the North-West America and available islands in the North Pacific.
Sixth detachment under the leadership of Martin Shpanberg had to find out about the Kuril Islands and the Japanese coast.The objectives of the seventh squad, which was named Academic, was to examine the inner area of Siberia.His head was appointed Professor Gerhard Miller.The researchers' work was held in a secret mode.
achievements of the first group
First Squad has spent 4 years to move from Arkhangelsk to the mouth of the Ob River.Particularly successful (compared with those that opened Behring) researchers have not yet reached - was described fairly small beach area, Ugra Bowl, as well as the island Matveev, duty and local.This is largely due to the emergence of scurvy, which became members of the expedition to mow almost from the first days of travel.
had problems with discipline among the sailors, which is used to achieve a severe punishment with rods.The guide first group had disagreements, but in the winter the local population experienced harassment forwarders, based on which they began to receive complaints.After that there was a change of leadership, command group became lieutenant Stepan Malygin, who later completed the first mission of the group.
Achievements second unit
expedition of Vitus Bering in the second part of the squad managed to achieve great success in comparison with the first group.During his mission, the detachment officer Ovtsyna complete the task, which related to the study of the coast from the mouth of the Ob River to the Yenisey.After arriving in St. Petersburg team leader was demoted after three years from the start of the journey, based on a political decision.He was credited with a close relationship with Prince Dolgoruky, was in exile.
After that the second group of leaders began Fyodor Minin and Dmitry Sterlegov.During the first voyage Minin was able to go only to the mouth of the Yenisei.Then in the summer of the following year he moved to the east.But after passing a number of small islands, faced with the ice, Minin decided to stop on his way.Sterlegov covered the distance by land north-east of the mouth of the Yenisei River to the Cape, which later was named after him.Kamchatka expedition of Vitus Bering second unit on this end.
However, among the new leaders of the second squad had disagreements.After returning from an expedition originated the lawsuit which resulted in Minin was demoted to the sailors for 2 years.
Achievements third detachment
third detachment aboard the "Yakutsk" from the mouth of the Lena held its way westward.Once they reached the mouth of Olenek, team leader Pronchishchev was decided to spend the winter.After this he went on an expedition detachment, breaking heavy ice.Upon reaching the coast of the Taimyr Peninsula from the east, the researchers due to the inability to continue the path back to the mouth of Olenek.
Pronchishchev After the death in 1736 became head of the unit Chariton Laptev.Freight forwarders have finished exploring the coast of the Taimyr Peninsula by land.
Achievements fourth unit
fourth group suffered considerable human loss due to scurvy, which died as a result of his head - Peter Lasinius, as well as 35 members of the expedition.The new head was Dmitry Laptev, who has successfully explored the coast between the Lena and the Kolyma.Under his command, the fourth squad made an effort to circumvent the Chukotka Peninsula and reach by sea to Kamchatka, but to no avail.
Achievements fifth squad.The discovery of the Commander Islands
fifth group led by Bering on the mail ship "Saint.Peter "and" Saint.Paul "headed for North America.July 15, 1741 I first saw the captain ashore "St.Paul, "Alexei Chirikov.A few days later the ship came close to the mainland under the leadership of Bering.Because of the storm, "St.Peter "was on a desert island, where the captain commander died of scurvy.Burial of the dead members of the expedition were found in 1991.
So, in honor of whom are named Commander Islands?In honor of Commander Vitus Bering.But it are not only the names of the islands.Strait and the Bering Sea on the map in the North Pacific also bear the name of the great commander.
Achievements sixth and seventh groups
Due to the sixth and seventh orders provided useful information in the geographical, geological, ethnographic field north and east of Siberia, as well as open and studied Kuril Islands and northern Japan.
