The contribution of Russian scientists is significant, which was facilitated by the diversity of nature in our vast country. They established the most important regularities in the formation of the geological structure earth's crust and advanced the doctrine of natural areas and diverse physical and geographical processes that form natural environment and its natural resources. The works of A. P. Karpinsky, I. V. Mushketov, V. A. Obruchev, A. P. Pavlov, F. N. Chernyshev, I. D. Chersky, and others played a particularly important role in the development of geological science. P. A. Kropotkin, based on his observations in Siberia, developed a scientific theory about the ancient ice age in the history of the Earth. In the field of meteorology, the works of A. I. Voeikov, who revealed the essence of many climatic processes and substantiated the possibility of artificial influence on the climate, gained worldwide fame. In the development of the Russian physical geography especially important role played by P. P. Semenov-Tian-Shansky, under whose leadership the complete geographical description our country called "Russia"; D. N. Anuchin, who developed Russian geography, and V. V. Dokuchaev, the founder of modern soil science and the theory of natural zones. The names of the outstanding Russian botanists V. L. Komarov, G. I. Tanfiliev, and the zoologist N. A. Severtsov are inextricably linked with the creation of scientific schools in the biological departments of the Earth sciences. Finally, the famous Russian navigators I.F. Kruzenshtern, F.F. Belingshausen, M.P. Lazarev, F.P. Litke and others, the greatest oceanographers S.O. Makarov, Yu.M. Shokalsky.

It should be noted that the leading Russian scientists had an unusually wide scientific views. Developing a specific field of science, studying their object of study, they always linked them with the general ideas of contemporary natural science, with phenomena and processes that link together the entire nature of the Earth as a whole.

The progressive foundations of the Earth sciences, created by Russian scientists, received a particularly fruitful development after the Great October Socialist Revolution.

socialist reconstruction National economy in our country, the creation of new industrial regions and the radical modernization of old ones, the expansion and increase in productivity Agriculture and the development of literally all sectors of the economy required the immediate identification and use of ever new natural resources, and, moreover, in increasing quantities. For this it was necessary to develop modern sciences about the earth; they began to grow especially rapidly as the economic might of the world's first country of victorious socialism strengthened.

It is characteristic that in tsarist Russia there was not a single large research institute in the field of earth sciences: the study of nature was carried out mainly by scientific societies, museums, and university professors. There was also no unified hydrometeorological network. Therefore, from the very first days of the establishment of Soviet power, at the direction of V. I. Lenin, a whole system of scientific institutions was formed in our country - the Academy of Sciences, the Supreme Council of the National Economy (VSNKh), the People's Commissariat of Education and a number of production people's commissariats. At the same time, the foundations of the future network of institutions of the Earth sciences were laid not only in Moscow and Petrograd, but also on the periphery, in the former outskirts of tsarist Russia, which became union republics. In addition, in order to quickly and uninterruptedly meet the needs of the growing national economy for mineral raw materials and all other types of natural resources, a special system of state scientific and production services is being created. The Cartographic Service provided a high modern degree of topographic and geodetic knowledge of our Motherland, the compilation and publication of excellent geographical maps and atlases. The Geological Survey has conducted and is conducting geological surveys, exploration and discovery of a vast number of major deposits various kinds mineral. The Hydrometeorological Service organized a massive network of observation stations, which accumulated vast information on climatic and water resources over the vast territory of the country, which made it possible to carry out meteorological and hydrological forecasts. Land and forest management services did a great job of studying land funds, natural fodder and forest resources, terrestrial and aquatic fauna, and contributed to the organization of their protection and rational use.

The wide front of research carried out during the years of Soviet power created favorable conditions for the development of the Earth sciences, which contributed to the formation of a number of research areas that have taken a leading position in world science.

So, in the field of geology, in the works of A. D. Arkhangelsky, D. V. Nalivkin, N. S. Shatsky, N. M. Strakhov and others, new historical-geological and structural-tectonic directions were developed, based on the doctrine of the main stages geological history Lands, system clarified modern concepts; In the works of V. I. Vernadsky, A. E. Fersman, A. N. Zavaritsky, A. P. Vinogradov and other prominent Soviet scientists, new principles and methods for studying the material composition of the Earth and its shells, as well as the conditions for the formation of various mountainous breeds. A large galaxy of Soviet geologists - A. N. Zavaritsky, S. S. Smirnov, I. M. Gubkin, D. I. Shcherbakov and others - developed a theory of the formation of various minerals and put forward scientific forecasts that brilliantly justified themselves for the search for deposits of various ores, coal, oil, gas Druyanov V.A. The mysterious biography of the Earth. - M., 1991.

Geography is now a complex system scientific disciplines that study nature, farms, the population of their country and the whole world. Along with the identification and study of various types of natural resources, the responsibility for the most effective economic development and the geographical distribution of productive forces in various regions of the country. Last time great attention researchers-geographers were involved in the scientific development of plans for the purposeful transformation of nature with the help of large hydraulic engineering construction, inter-basin transfer river waters, carrying out extensive land reclamation - irrigation, watering, drainage, field-protective forest plantations, etc. An important place was occupied by research on population problems, urban development, settlements, transport routes, etc. The term constructive research is now applied to all these works, which emphasizes that geography, in addition to educational and cognitive goals, is actively included in the decision critical tasks national economic development.

Achievements general theory Soviet geography is largely indebted to L. S. Berg, who laid the foundations of landscape science, A. A. Grigoriev, who developed the theory of the role of the balance of heat and moisture in natural processes, and N. N. Baransky, who developed scientific foundations economic geography.

Within the general framework of the geographical sciences, geomorphology, the science of relief, developed very successfully. earth's surface, formed as a result of the interaction of internal and external forces(Ya. S. Edelshtein, A. A. Borzov and others); glaciology - the science of glaciers, their formation and movement; permafrost - the doctrine of underground ice, frozen soils and rocks (M. I. Sumgin and others); climatology, especially in the study of the radiation balance as the main climate-forming factor, the movement and interaction of air masses, moisture circulation, moisture transfer and microclimate; hydrology, which has done much in the study of surface and river runoff and the water balance of a territory (V. G. Glushkov and others); soil science, which continued the study of genetic soil types and soil cover structures (K. D. Glinka, S. S. Neustruev, L. I. Prasovlov, B. B. Polynov, and others); geobotany and zoogeography both in the study of the geography of plants and animals and in the development of the theory of biogeocenoses, their dynamics, and biological productivity (V. N. Sukachev and others).

Such a science as oceanology has received independent development. In addition to wonderful geographical research in the Arctic basin (P. P. Shirshov, V. Yu. Vize, N. N. Zubov, etc.), and in last years In connection with international work in the Antarctic, numerous ocean raids by research ships Vityaz and others played a huge role in this regard, opening up new horizons in oceanology.

In addition to completely new ideas about the physical phenomena in the ocean, the most interesting discoveries were made in hydrobiology (L. A. Zenkevich and others), as well as in the structure of the ocean floor and the composition of bottom sediments. For example, entire systems of underwater sea ridges and depressions have been discovered in the ocean. Undoubtedly, in this field of Earth sciences, there is still a lot of new things waiting for us Bogoslovsky B.B., Samokhin A.A., Ivanov K.E., Sokolov D.P. General hydrology. - L., 1984. - 356 p.

The Russian Geographical Society is a public organization aimed at a deep and comprehensive study of the geographical, ecological and cultural aspects in the history of Russia. This organization brings together not only specialists in the field of geography, travelers, ecologists, but also people who seek to gain new knowledge about Russia and are ready to help preserve it. Natural resources and wealth.

The Russian Geographical Society (abbreviated RGO) was founded in 1845 by decree of Emperor Nicholas I.

From 1845 to the present time, the Russian Geographical Society has been active. It should be noted that the name of the Society changed several times: at first it was called the Imperial Geographical Society, then it became the State Geographical Society, then the Geographical Society of the USSR (All-Union Geographical Society), and finally it became the Russian Geographical Society.

The founder of the Russian Geographical Society is Admiral Fyodor Petrovich Litke. He created the Society in order to master Russia and study it comprehensively.

Among the creators of the Russian Geographical Society, one can distinguish famous navigators such as Ivan Fedorovich Kruzenshtern, Ferdinand Petrovich Wrangel. Members of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences took part in the creation of the Society, for example, naturalist Karl Maksimovich Baer, statistician Peter Ivanovich Koeppen. Military leaders also contributed to the development of the Russian Geographical Society: geodesist Mikhail Pavlovich Vronchenko, statesman Mikhail Nikolaevich Muravyov. Among the Russian intelligentsia, who took an active part in the creation of the Society, we can single out the linguist Vladimir Ivanovich Dahl, the philanthropist Vladimir Petrovich Odoevsky.

The leaders of the Society were members of the Russian Imperial House, travelers, researchers and statesmen. These are representatives of the Romanov Imperial House, and the presidents of the Society, such as the Russian and Soviet geneticist, geographer Nikolai Ivanovich Vavilov, who participated in dozens of expeditions and created the doctrine of the world centers of origin of cultivated plants. The Russian Geographical Society was also headed by the Soviet zoologist, geographer Lev Semenovich Berg, who made a huge contribution to science. He collected materials about the nature of different regions, in addition, he created a textbook called "Nature of the USSR." L.S. Berg can be considered the creator of modern physical geography, as he is the founder of landscape science. By the way, the landscape division proposed by Lev Semenovich has survived to this day.

For the past 7 years (since 2009), the post of President of the Russian Geographical Society has been occupied by the Minister of Defense Russian Federation Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu. And in 2010, the Board of Trustees was formed, headed by the President of the country Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin. At meetings of the Council, the results of the work of the Russian Geographical Society for the year are summed up, and plans for the future are also discussed. In addition, various grants of the Russian Geographical Society are awarded at the meetings.

The Russian Geographical Society has its own charter. The first one came out on December 28, 1849 under Nicholas I. And the charter that exists today was approved on December 11, 2010 during the 14th Congress of the All-Russian Public Organization "Russian Geographical Society". In accordance with this, the society received the status of an “all-Russian public organization”.

The main goal of the Russian Geographical Society is a comprehensive knowledge of Russia and the world in all its diversity. To achieve this goal it is necessary:

1. active participation of society in its activities;

2. collection, processing and dissemination of various information about Russia in the field of geography, ecology, culture, ethnography.

3. drawing attention to historical, cultural sites Russia for the development of tourism.

The Russian Geographical Society is trying to involve representatives of the youth environment in its activities in order to reveal their creative potential to organize various competitions, as well as to cultivate respect for nature.

The Society closely cooperates with environmental, geographic, environmental and charitable organizations, educational institutions(including with federal universities), research and scientific centers, with commercial organizations working in the field of tourism, education. The Russian Geographical Society also cooperates with the media.

Today the Society has about 13,000 members in Russia and abroad. The Russian Geographical Society is a non-profit organization, therefore it does not receive state funding.

The Russian Geographical Society is covered in a variety of media. For example, in the magazine "Arguments and Facts", in the newspapers "Kommersant", " Russian newspaper”, on the TV channels “St. Petersburg”, “Channel 5”, “NTV”

There is a website of the Russian Geographical Society, which contains all the necessary information about the Society, as well as a library, grants and projects. One of the most important projects is the youth movement, which was created in 2013. To date, about 80 thousand schoolchildren and students from all regions of Russia, as well as about 1 thousand specialists in the field of geographical and environmental education. The youth movement was created in order to organize all-Russian youth projects, with the help of which the participants could show their activity, creativity and initiative.

The Russian Geographical Society awards special awards for achievements in the field of geography or for assistance to the Russian Geographical Society.

This award is given to members of the Russian Geographical Society for their achievements and usefulness in geography. The Konstantinovsky medal was received by Vladimir Ivanovich Dal for "The Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language" (1863), Vladimir Afanasyevich Obruchev for his works on the geology of Asia (1900) and many others.

2. Big gold medal:

The award is given for work in the field of science every 2 or 3 years. Only those scientists who have accomplished a brave feat can receive it. Another criterion is successful expeditions, which resulted in some important discovery. A large gold medal was received by Nikolai Vasilyevich Slyunin for his essay “The Okhotsk-Kamchatka Territory” (1901), Grigory Nikolayevich Potanin for his work entitled “Essays on North-Western Mongolia” (1881).

3. Big silver medal:

The award is given for works in the field of science once every 1 or 2 years for a contribution to the Russian Geographical Society, or for success in the field of geography.

4. Golden medal them. Fyodor Petrovich Litke:

Only scientists who have made the most important discoveries in the oceans and polar countries can receive such an award. For the first time the medal was awarded to Konstantin Stepanovich Staritsky for hydrographic research in the Pacific Ocean (1874) different years the medal was received by Mikhail Vasilyevich Pevtsov for his work "Essay on a journey through Mongolia" (1885), Leonid Ludwigovich Breitfus for the study of the Barents Sea (1907) and others.

5. Gold medal to them. Petr Petrovich Semyonov:

This medal is awarded for the study of environmental issues, scientific works on soil geography and description of vast parts of Russia and other countries. It was founded in 1899 and was awarded to Pyotr Yulievich Schmidt for studying water conditions in the Far East (1906), Lev Semenovich Berg for studying the Aral Sea (1909) and other scientists.

6. Gold medal to them. Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky:

The medal is awarded for discoveries in deserts and mountainous countries, for expeditions to explore the peoples of Russia and other countries. It was established on August 29, 1946 and was awarded once every 2 years. One of those who received this award is Alexander Mikhailovich Berlyant.

7. Gold medal to them. Alexander Fedorovich Treshnikov:

The medal is awarded to participants of expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic, dedicated to the study of climatic conditions, as a result of which scientific discoveries were made, as well as to the development of the polar regions.

8. Gold medal to them. Nikolai Nikolaevich Miklukho-Maclay:

Awarded for research in the field of ethnography, historical geography, cultural heritage.

9. Small gold and silver medals:

They can be obtained once a year. The authors of scientific papers in one of the areas of the Russian Geographical Society, which systematize the results of research done on any subject, were awarded a small gold medal. Silver is awarded for selfless assistance to the Society. Both medals were established in 1858. Petr Petrovich Semyonov received small gold medals for the work and services rendered to the Society (1866), Venedikt Ivanovich Dybovsky and Viktor Alexandrovich Godlevsky for researching Lake Baikal (1870) and others. Small silver medals were awarded to Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky for the article "Non-town population of the southern part of the Primorsky Region" (1869), Alexander Andreevich Dostoevsky for his help in compiling the "History of the Society" (1895) and many other scientists.

In addition to medals, the Society annually awards the following awards:

1. Prize to them. Semyon Ivanovich Dezhnev:

2. Honorary diploma:

Scientists are awarded for research in geography and related sciences. The decision to award a diploma is published on the website of the Russian Geographical Society.

3. Certificate of honor:

The diploma is awarded for contribution to the development of the Society. As a rule, the presentation takes place on an anniversary or is associated with an important date.

4. Nominal scholarship:

Awarded at least 10 times a year. It is awarded to young scientists in the field of geography for the best scientific works.

The Russian Geographical Society provides grants in priority areas - funds to finance research and educational projects aimed at achieving the goal and solving the problems of the Company.

Grant projects should be of great public importance and be oriented toward achieving practical results in the interests of Russia.

Grants have been awarded every year since 2010 on a competitive basis. The competition is organized at the end of the year, its duration is a month. For example, in 2010, the Russian Geographical Society provided financial assistance to 13 projects in the amount of 42 million rubles, a year later the number of projects increased greatly - up to 56. More than 180 million rubles were allocated for them. In 2012, almost 200 million rubles were allocated for 52 projects. And in 2013, grant support in the amount of more than 100 million rubles was provided to 114 projects.

The Russian Geographical Society has many periodicals. For example, "Herald of the Imperial geographical society”, “Living antiquity”, “Questions of geography”, “Geographic news”, etc.

The Russian Geographical Society has 85 regional branches in the Russian Federation. Their activity is to increase the level of knowledge of citizens about their region, increase the number of activists of the Russian Geographical Society, and draw attention to the environmental environment.

A series of 12 postage stamped cards dedicated to the famous awards of the Russian Geographical Society has been published. Since the foundation of the Society, its medals have been awarded for outstanding achievements in the field of geography.

So, one of the most honorary awards of the Russian Geographical Society is the Konstantinovsky medal. The first postcard of the series is dedicated to her. The founder of the award in 1846 was the chairman of the IRGO Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich. The conditions for its award were the accomplishment by the nominee of a geographical feat associated with great difficulty or danger, as well as the conduct of research aimed at solving primary state problems.

Over the years, Ernst Hoffmann, head of the first major expedition of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society to the Northern Urals, Nikolai Przhevalsky for Scientific research and geographical discoveries and travels to Mongolia and the country of the Tanguts, Pyotr Kozlov for the Tibetan expedition in 1899-1901, Vladimir Obruchev for his work on the geology of Asia, Fridtjof Nansen for his feat, which constitutes an era in the exploration of the Arctic Ocean, and other outstanding scientists.

Two cards are dedicated to the Big Gold Medal for scientific work and the Big Silver Medal. A large gold medal for scientific work is awarded for an important geographical feat, the accomplishment of which is fraught with labor and danger, including for scientific expeditions in Russia and other countries, if their results have become widely known and contain new and important information. A large silver medal is awarded for achievements in the field of geographical sciences, for activities in organizing expeditions, research and travel, as well as for a significant contribution to the development of the Society.

The series also includes postcards with images of the Small Gold and Small Silver medals. A small gold medal is awarded for independent scientific work in one of the activities of the Society, which includes the systematization of the results of research done on any subject. Small silver medal - for disinterested assistance in the activities of the Society, contributing to the preservation and enhancement of the glorious traditions of the Russian Geographical Society, strengthening its scientific, organizational, financial and economic condition.

In addition, seven cards are dedicated to medals bearing the names of famous Russian geographers. This is the Gold Medal named after F.P. Litke, P.P. Semyonov, Gold medal named after N.M. Przhevalsky, I.P. Borodin, Gold medal named after A.F. Treshnikov, Gold medal named after N.N. Miklukho-Maclay and the Gold Medal named after Yu.A. Senkevich.

Recall that the publication of "geographical" signs of postage, which include, among other things, cards, envelopes and stamps, is carried out within the framework of a cooperation agreement between the Russian Geographical Society and the Federal Communications Agency.

Cards can be purchased at the offices of the Russian Post, as well as at the branch joint stock company"Marka" - salon "Collector".

RESULTS OF RUSSIAN CIRCUITS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO GEOGRAPHICAL SCIENCE

Russian circumnavigations in the first half of the 19th century. completed milestone in the history of navigation and geographical discoveries. They were the most massive of all the voyages that took place in the history of the Russian sailing fleet and covered the vast waters of the oceans. In 1854 from the Baltic Sea to the seas Far East the first steam ship arrived, and three years later the construction of military sailing ships was stopped in Russia. began new era- the dominance of the steam, and later diesel fleet. Expeditions could now freely sail the oceans in any given direction regardless of winds and currents. Travel time has been greatly reduced. Russian circumnavigations continued to expand knowledge about our planet and made a significant contribution to the history of geographical discoveries and exploration of the oceans.

Most important event geographically there was a discovery in Antarctic waters Atlantic Ocean expedition of F. Bellingshausen - M. Lazarev of the new continent of Antarctica. The discovery of Antarctica is the greatest geographical discovery of the 19th century. Significant geographical discoveries, in addition to the discovery of Antarctica, were made in the Pacific Ocean, in its tropical and Antarctic parts. Scientific expeditions led by O. E. Kotzebue, F. F. Bellingshausen, M. P. Lazarev, and F. P. Litke undertook a special study of the waters in these regions. They discovered and described numerous coral "low-lying" islands, and in some cases, entire archipelagos of islands in the system of the Tuamotu, Marshall and Caroline Islands (Fig. 13).

Russian geographical discoveries in the Pacific Ocean were highly appreciated by progressive foreign naturalists and undoubtedly had a profound influence on them. As we have already indicated above, C. Darwin used the material of Russian scientists in creating a theory about the origin of coral islands, and in a detailed description of them he directly used the advice of Krusenstern and Litke, as well as the works of Kotzebue, Bellingshausen, Lisyansky, Lazarev and others. He gives characteristic descriptions of the atolls of Rimsky-Korsakov, Menshikov, Rumyantsev, Suvorov and many others. Here is what Darwin wrote about some archipelagos Pacific Ocean in his work: “We are well acquainted with this group (the Marshall Islands. - V. E.) from the excellent maps of individual islands compiled during two expeditions of Kotzebue; a reduced map of the entire group can be seen in the atlas of Kruzenshtern and in the second journey of Kotzebue. "The Caroline Archipelago is well known chiefly from the hydrographic works of Litke".

The memory of the achievements of Russian sailors and scientists lives in the names geographical objects. And today on world maps we see Russian names in the names of islands, archipelagos, harbors, etc. Part of the Tuamotu Islands in the central part of the Pacific Ocean, for example, is called the Russian Islands. In the Antarctic sector of the Pacific Ocean, the Russians discovered the islands of Peter I and Alexander I Land, and also described many of the South Shetland Islands. Great importance had inventories of little-known coasts, especially in the northwestern part of North America and northeast Asia, as well as the Sakhalin Islands, the Kuril and Aleutian Islands. Important discoveries in the northern part of the Pacific Ocean were the discoveries of Kotzebue in the Bering Sea, as well as the inventory by G. I. Nevelsky of the Tatar Strait and the mouth of the Amur. The voyage of Nevelskoy proved that Sakhalin was an island and opened up a navigable route along the Amur, and contributed to the consolidation of Russia's influence in the Far East.

Rice. 14. Title page of the "Atlas" by I. F. Kruzenshtern

Rice. 15. Title page of the Atlas by G. A. Sarychev

A great contribution was made by Russian navigators around the world in the study of physical and chemical properties World ocean and atmosphere. The crews of the ships, participating in the voyages, conducted quite a variety of observations on the weather: air temperature, atmospheric pressure, cloudiness, precipitation, direction and strength of the wind, and other phenomena. Sailing on small ships, Russian scientists and navigators managed to do a lot in science and, moreover, at a time when other states did not achieve similar results. “In other words,” wrote Yu.M. Shokalsky, - Russian sailors showed not only zeal in their work, but also discovered an outstanding initiative in scientific work on the study of the ocean. Russian scientists and navigators not only made good use of knowledge about natural phenomena in the ocean and atmosphere of previous researchers, but also made a significant contribution to the development of these branches of natural science.

Navigation contributed to the elucidation of the patterns of movement of air masses in the atmosphere and the circulation of water in the oceans.

Russian geographical discoveries in the Pacific Ocean served as material for compiling more accurate maps and atlases used for navigation and other purposes. Outstanding cartographic works of the first quarter of the 19th century, in addition to the atlases compiled by each expedition, were the Atlases created by I. F. Kruzenshtern and G. A. Sarychev. Kruzenshtern's Atlas of the South Sea (Fig. 14), published in two parts (1st part - St. Petersburg, 1824; II part - St. Petersburg, 1826), included maps and plans for the Pacific Ocean as a whole. The first part of the "Atlas" contains 21 maps and 11 plans of the southern part of the ocean, the second - 23 maps and 7 plans of its northern part. The atlas was accompanied by the publication of hydrological records (part I - 1823, part II - 1826, part III - 1836). The most interesting in the atlas are the "General Maps" of both parts of the Pacific Ocean, northern and southern. The content of the maps differs from those previously compiled not only in completeness, but also in a more rigorous scientific selection and processing of geographic data and all cartographic material accumulated by the beginning of the second quarter of the 19th century. across the Pacific Ocean. They reflect numerous new discoveries, and in particular the discoveries that took place during the Russian voyages around the world, including the discoveries of Bellingshausen and Lazarev. Private maps and plans (mainly of individual archipelagos or islands) are of great interest, since they indicated soundings, reefs and shoals, compass declinations and anchorages. This work of Kruzenshtern, together with three-volume hydrographic descriptions, was highly appreciated by sailors of all countries of the world and for many years served as a guide for them when sailing in the Pacific Ocean. The author of the works was awarded the full Demidov Prize from the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences out of competition. Academicians K. M. Baer, F. P. Litke, A. Ya. Kupfer and others, evaluating the Atlas of the South Sea, noted the high scientific and practical value of the Atlas of Krusenstern, its superiority over the maps of the English hydrographers Arrosmit and Nori. F. P. Wrangel wrote that Kruzenshtern used such materials that foreigners did not know, and brought him to such a degree of perfection that could not be achieved in other states. Experienced English captain R. Fitz-Roy, who led an expedition around the world in 1831-1836. on the ships "Adventure" and "Beagle", indicated that during his voyage, the maps and records of Krusenstern were the only guide for him.

The work of G. A. Sarychev "Atlas of the Northern Part of the Eastern Ocean" (St. Petersburg, 1826) included 26 maps and plans, as well as 7 profiles with views of the coasts of Asia and North America (Fig. 15). The general map - "The Mercator Map of the Eastern Ocean and Part of the Arctic Sea" - covered the space between 5-80 ° N. sh. and 75-254° E. (from St. Petersburg). Most of the regional maps depicted individual areas of the coasts of the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, as well as islands. Sarychei reflected on the general map the new discoveries of Russian navigators and included in the Atlas individual maps of the regions compiled as a result of various expeditions. Thus, the "Atlas" includes the "Map of St. Lawrence" (Kotsebu), "Map of North-West America" (Gagemeister), maps of the islands of Atha (Vasiliev), Attu (Golovnin), etc.

The atlases of I.F. Kruzenshtern and G.A. Sarychev were the first detailed Russian atlases of the Pacific Ocean, covering all its water areas in the north, south, west and east (Fig. 16). Later, other atlases appeared, for example, "Atlas of the Eastern Ocean ...". A. F. Katnevarova (1850), "Atlas of the North-Western Coasts of America..." M. D. Tebenkov (1852).

On August 18, we celebrate the birthday of the Russian Geographical Society - one of the oldest Russian public organizations, and the only one that has continuously existed since its inception in 1845.

Just think about it: neither wars, nor revolutions, nor periods of devastation, timelessness, and the collapse of the country did not stop its existence! There have always been daredevils, scientists, mad researchers who, both in prosperous and in the most difficult times, took any risk for the sake of science. And even now, at the moment, new full members of the Russian Geographical Society are on their way. "MIR 24" tells only about some of the great travelers who glorified the Russian Geographical Society.

Ivan Krusenstern (1770 - 1846)

Photo: unknown artist, 1838.

Russian navigator, admiral, one of the initiators of the creation of the Russian Geographical Society. He led the first Russian round-the-world expedition.

Even in his youth, fellow students in the Naval Cadet Corps noted the unbending, "sea" character of the future Russian admiral. His faithful colleague, friend and rival Yuri Lisyansky, who became the commander of the second ship in their legendary circumnavigation, noted that the main qualities of cadet Kruzenshtern were "reliability, commitment and lack of interest in everyday life."

It was then, during the years of study, that his dreams were born to explore distant lands and oceans. However, they did not come true soon, only in 1803. As part of the first Russian round the world expedition included the ships "Nadezhda" and "Neva".
During this expedition, new way to Russian possessions in Kamchatka and Alaska. The western coast of Japan, the southern and eastern parts of Sakhalin were plotted on the map, and part of the Kuril ridge was comprehensively studied.

Photo: "I. F. Kruzenshtern in Avacha Bay, Friedrich Georg Veich, 1806

During his round-the-world trip, measurements of current speed, temperature at different depths, determination of salinity and specific gravity of water, and much more were carried out. Thus, Ivan Kruzenshtern became one of the founders of Russian oceanology.

Pyotr Semenov-Tyan-Shansky (1827 - 1914)

Photo: Alexandre Quinet, 1870

Vice-chairman of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society and its leading scientist - but not an armchair. He was a brave and stubborn pioneer. He explored Altai, Tarbagatai, Semirechensky and Zailiysky Alatau, Lake Issyk-Kul. Only mountaineers will be able to appreciate the way the brave traveler traveled through the hard-to-reach mountains of the Central Tien Shan, where Europeans have not yet been able to reach. He discovered and for the first time conquered the peak of Khan Tengri with glaciers on its slopes and proved that the opinion of the international scientific world that a range of volcanoes erupts in these places is erroneous. The scientist also found out where the sources of the Naryn, Sarydzhaz and Chu rivers come from, penetrated into the upper reaches of the Syr Darya, which had not been traveled before.

Semenov-Tyan-Shansky became the actual creator of the new Russian geographical school, offering the international scientific world a fundamentally new way of knowledge. Being at the same time a geologist, botanist and zoologist, he first began to consider natural systems in their unity. A geological structure mountains compared with the mountainous terrain and identified patterns on which the entire scientific world.

Nikolai Miklukho-Maclay (1846-1888)

Photo: ITAR-TASS, 1963

The famous Russian traveler, anthropologist, explorer, who made a number of expeditions to the previously unexplored New Guinea and other Pacific islands. Accompanied by only two servants, he lived among the Papuans for a long time, collected the richest materials about primitive peoples, made friends with them, and helped them.

Here is what his biographers write about the scientist: “The most characteristic of Miklouho-Maclay is an amazing combination of traits of a brave traveler, a tireless enthusiastic researcher, a widely erudite scientist, a progressive humanist thinker, an energetic public figure, a fighter for the rights of the oppressed colonial peoples. Such qualities separately are not particularly rare, but the combination of all of them in one person is a completely exceptional phenomenon.

In his travels, Miklouho-Maclay also collected a lot of information about the peoples of Indonesia and Malaya, the Philippines, Australia, Melanesia, Micronesia and western Polynesia. He was ahead of his time. His work was not sufficiently appreciated in the 19th century, but anthropological researchers of the 20th and 21st centuries consider his contribution to science to be a real scientific feat.

Nikolai Przhevalsky (1839-1888)

Photo: ITAR-TASS, 1948

Russian military figure, major general, one of the greatest Russian geographers and travelers, who consciously prepared himself for travel since the gymnasium.

Przhevalsky devoted 11 years of his life to long expeditions. First, he led a two-year expedition to the Ussuri region (1867-1869), and after that, in 1870-1885, he made four trips to little-known areas Central Asia.

The first expedition in the region of Central Asia was devoted to the study of Mongolia, China and Tibet. Przhevalsky collected scientific evidence that the Gobi is not a plateau, and the Nanshan mountains are not a range, but a mountain system. The explorer owns the discovery of a whole series of mountains, ranges, and lakes.

During the second expedition, the scientist discovered new Altyntag mountains, and for the first time described two rivers and a lake. And the border of the Tibet highlands, thanks to his research, had to be moved more than 300 km to the north on the maps.

In the third expedition, Przhevalsky singled out several ranges in Nanshan, Kunlun and Tibet, described Lake Kukunor, as well as the upper reaches of the great rivers of China, the Huang He and Yangtze. Despite the illness, the discoverer organized the fourth expedition to Tibet in 1883-1885, during which he discovered whole line new lakes and ranges.

He described more than 30 thousand kilometers of the path he traveled, collected unique collections. He discovered not only mountains and rivers, but also hitherto unknown representatives of the animal world: a wild camel, a Tibetan bear, a wild horse.
Like many prominent geographers of that time, Przhevalsky was the owner of a good and lively literary language. He wrote several books about his travels, in which he gave a vivid description of Asia: its flora, fauna, climate and the peoples inhabiting it.

Sergei Prokudin-Gorsky (1863-1944)

Photo: Sergei Prokudin-Gorsky, 1912

Ancestor of the era of color photography in Russia. He was the first to capture in color nature, cities and people's lives on a vast stretch from the Baltic Sea to the East of Russia.

He created a system of color reproduction for photography: from the recipe of the emulsion that is applied to glass plates for photography, to the drawings of special equipment for color photography and the projection of the resulting color images.

Since 1903, he has been constantly on trips: with the obsession of a real traveler, he takes pictures of the natural beauties of Russia, its inhabitants, cities, architectural monuments - all genuine sights Russian Empire.

In December 1906-January 1907 Prokudin-Gorsky traveled to Turkestan with an expedition of the Russian Geographical Society to photograph the solar eclipse. It was not possible to capture the eclipse in color, but the ancient monuments of Bukhara and Samarkand, colorful local types of people and much more were filmed.

In the autumn of 1908, Nicholas II himself provided Prokudin-Gorsky with the necessary vehicles and gives permission to shoot in any place, so that the photographer can capture "in natural colors" all the main sights of the Russian Empire from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean. In total, it is planned to take 10 thousand pictures in 10 years.

A few days after meeting with the tsar, the photographer sets off along the Mariinsky waterway from St. Petersburg almost to the Volga itself. For three and a half years he has been constantly moving and taking pictures. First, he takes pictures of the northern part of the industrial Urals. Then he makes two trips along the Volga, capturing it from its very source to Nizhny Novgorod. In between, he shoots the southern part of the Urals. And then - numerous monuments of antiquity in Kostroma and the Yaroslavl province. In the spring and autumn of 1911, the photographer manages to visit the Trans-Caspian region and Turkestan twice more, where he tried color filming for the first time in history.

This is followed by two photo expeditions to the Caucasus, where he photographs the Mugan steppe, undertakes a grandiose trip along the planned Kama-Tobolsk waterway, conducts extensive surveys of areas associated with the memory of Patriotic War 1812 - from Maloyaroslavets to Lithuanian Vilna, photographs Ryazan, Suzdal, the construction of the Kuzminskaya and Beloomutovskaya dams on the Oka.

Then financial difficulties begin, the financing of expeditions is interrupted. In 1913-1914. Prokudin-Gorsky is engaged in the creation of the first color cinema. But further development this new project was thwarted by the First World War. None of Prokudin-Gorsky's experimental color films has yet been found.

Artur Chilingarov (born 1939)

Photo: Lev Fedoseev/ITAR-TASS

Famous polar explorer, Hero Soviet Union, Hero of the Russian Federation, a prominent Russian scientist, author of a number of scientific papers on the development of the North and the Arctic. Lives and works in Moscow.

Since 1963, he has been studying the Arctic Ocean and the oceanic atmosphere at the Arctic Research Observatory in the village of Tiksi. In 1969, he headed the North Pole-19 station, created on drifting ice, since 1971 he worked as the head of the Bellingshausen station, and since 1973 - the head of the North Pole-22 station. In 1985, he led an operation to rescue the expedition ship Mikhail Somov, which was covered in Antarctic ice. The icebreaker "Vladivostok" broke the ice around the diesel-electric ship and freed its crew from the blockade, which lasted as much as 133 days.

In 1987, Chilingarov led the team of the nuclear-powered icebreaker Sibir, which reached the geographic North Pole. In January 2002, the traveler proved the possibility of operating light aircraft in Antarctica: he reached the South Pole on a single-engine An-ZT aircraft.

Photo: Roman Denisov/ITAR-TASS

In the summer of 2007, the famous polar explorer led an Arctic expedition aboard the Akademik Fedorov, which proved that the Arctic Ocean shelf is a continuation of the Siberian continental platform. The Mir-1 and Mir-2 vehicles were submerged to the bottom of the ocean, one of which was carrying Chilingarov himself. He also set a kind of record as the first person in the world to visit both the South and North Poles within six months.

Nikolai Litau (born 1955)

Photo: from the archive

Honored Master of Sports, Russian yachtsman, who made three round-the-world trips on the Apostol Andrey yacht built under his leadership. Awarded with the Order of Courage. During three round-the-world trips, Apostol Andrew left 110,000 nautical miles astern, visited all the continents of the planet, passed all the oceans and set five world records.

Here is what Nikolai Litau told a MIR 24 correspondent: “I made three round-the-world voyages on the Apostle Andrey. The first is around the Eastern Hemisphere through the Northern Sea Route, the second is around the Western Hemisphere, through the straits of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, and the third is the Antarctic: in 2005-06 we circled Antarctica, all the time being above 60 degrees of latitude, the invisible border of Antarctica. The latter has not yet been repeated by anyone. The fourth global voyage, in which I happened to take part, took place in 2012-13. It was international trip around the world, his route passed mainly through warm and comfortable tropical latitudes. I was the captain-mentor on the Russian yacht Royal Leopard and covered half the distance. During this voyage, I crossed my jubilee - the tenth equator. In recent years, we have been engaged in memorial trips on the yacht "Apostol Andrei" in the Russian Arctic. We recall the names of outstanding Russian sailors: Vladimir Rusanov, Georgy Sedov, Boris Vilkitsky, Georgy Brusilov and others.”