Geography of amazing atmospheric phenomena. Rare and unusual natural phenomena: photos, descriptions
Apr 26, 2016
The age of great geographical discoveries has long ended, the world map is fully formed and full of tourist routes. Lovers of traditional holidays enjoy. But there are also those who do not stop with what they have known and constantly strive for new heights. the site talks about contemporaries for whom travel is not a vacation, but the meaning of life associated with constantly overcoming the elements.
Russia is responsible for many domestic and global geo- and ethnographic discoveries and research. At one time, the country was glorified by many travelers who explored unknown lands. Centuries later, their exploits inspire our compatriots to new achievements - to repeat the historical route or create their own special one.
The heroes of our time set themselves a very realistic goal and approach it with youth, or after significant career path. The passion for travel gives rise to project after project, inspiring people all over the world to travel personally, and our heroes selflessly share their successes, publishing books, participating in painting and photo exhibitions, and uniting like-minded people.
Fedor Konyukhov was born and raised on the shore Sea of Azov. He began conquering the sea elements with his father on a fishing boat, and then on his own. Sports, military service and study strengthened character and fostered endurance, resourcefulness and courage, which would later manifest themselves in expeditions to conquer the highest mountains. mountain peaks, water, air and land travel.
There is a significant moment in the biography of Fyodor Konyukhov when he receives from his grandfather the pectoral cross of the great conqueror of the north, Georgy Sedov. The Russian explorer left it before the last trip to the North Pole in the hope that Mikhail Konyukhov would give the cross to the child who could reach the Arctic.
Fedor was able to achieve his cherished goal three times: by following the route of the legendary Vitus Bering and recreating the conditions of that period; as part of the Soviet-Canadian trans-Antarctic ski expedition, as well as having completed a solo 72-day trek to North Pole in 1990.
Subsequently, Fedor conquered in 59 days South Pole, participated in land and bicycle expeditions, carried out solo sea voyages, 6 circumnavigation of the world; climbed 7 peaks of the world, and this year he plans to travel 33-35 thousand km through the Tasman Sea, the Pacific Ocean, Chile, Argentina, Atlantic Ocean, Cape of Good Hope, Indian Ocean, go back.
Wherever the Russian traveler is, his trips are connected with research activities and development Russian science, as well as creativity. He is the author of 17 books and 3000 paintings.
Successful Russian businessman Sergey Dolya main reason travel named fear of air travel.
Overcoming himself led to a hobby, which Sergei talks about in the blog “Page of Virtual Travelers”, trying to introduce the uniqueness of each place visited, be it a village in the Russian outback, or a fishing village in Tanzania.
Sergey Share in the Toyota expedition in the Far North in 2016 The expedition with Sergey’s participation moves along the ice of the Laptev Sea to the northernmost port of Tiksi locality Yakutia, located far beyond the Arctic Circle.Photo reports are collected exhibition halls, publications are formed into two full-fledged books, and Dolya sets herself new tasks: she fights garbage dumps for the sake of the country, rapidly losing weight for the sake of health, visiting the mystical Dyatlov Pass. “Exprussia” is considered the most patriotic project: in 2014, Share with like-minded people.
The founder of the Academy of Free Travels society, Anton Krotov, is the author of about 40 books about visiting cities in Russia, Europe, Africa, Asia, America, as well as the features of a safe stay and hitchhiking, finding travel companions and the attractions of the usual way of life in these places.
The most important project of the traveler is the “House for Everyone”, which has existed since 2006, which has become a base for travel researchers in various countries.
Vladislav Ketov. Journey around the earth, the main stage, 1998 - 2000: America. Photo from the website www.ketov.ru.Founder of Ethical environmental movement» (EDEM) St. Petersburg resident Vladislav Ketov considers the preservation of life on earth and the protection of environment. For this, he received official representative status from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in 1995.
Map of the first ever trip around the earth along coastline, committed by Vladislav Ketov. Photo from the site www.ketov.ru.Bicycle like ecological view transport, and the desire to travel a unique route helped put into practice the very first trip in history around the earth (along the coastline of the continents) from May 14, 1991 to June 3, 2012.
Having traveled 167,000 km and visited 86 countries, without passing through war zones (Yugoslavia, the Middle East, Western Sahara, Angola, Mozambique, Northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, Cambodia, Colombia), mainly in difficult places, Ketov communicated with local population, gave press conferences and drew graphic portraits from memory.
Vladimir Nesin
Vladimir has always been interested in in a healthy way life, sports (sambo) and hiking, so after retirement I took up walking around the world barefoot. Currently, I have traveled through more than 100 countries using only GPS without a map from gadgets and instruments. In 1999, he received a Citizen of the World passport in Australia and strives to pass on his experience to the younger generation.
Anatoly Khizhnyak
Sports hobbies pushed Anatoly Khizhnyak to travel alone. As a fourteen-year-old boy, he had already crossed Kola Peninsula, and in 1991 he went to South America, where he walked 500 km through the Amazon jungle. He is considered the best expert on Peru in Russia.
Expedition to Peru with Anatoly KhizhnyakHe is called the Russian Indiana Jones, because the journey through South America started without any idea of language, practically without a map, during the period real war between the local population and almost died after staying in an Inca cave.
Leonid Kruglov
Currently, Leonid Kruglov is preparing a documentary project “The Great Northern Route”.Traveler and documentarian Leonid Kruglov, based on the latest facts and research, repeated the path of I.F.’s first Russian trip around the world. Krusenstern to create a complete reconstruction and documentary film. In 13 months, three oceans were crossed again on the legendary bark Sedov.
Text: Olga Mikhailova
One of the important stages in the history of human development is the era of discoverers. Maps with the seas marked on them are refined, ships are improved, and leaders send their sailors to capture new lands.
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Feature of the era
The term “great geographical discoveries” conventionally unites historical events, starting from the mid-15th century and ending in the mid-17th. Europeans were actively exploring new lands.
The emergence of this era had its own prerequisites: the search for new trade routes and the development of navigation. Before the 15th century, the British already knew North America with Iceland. History included many famous travelers, among whom were Afanasy Nikitin, Rubrik and others.
Important! Began great era geographical discoveries of Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal, this event occurred at the beginning of the 15th century.
First achievements
Geographical science of that time was in serious decline. Lone sailors tried to share their discoveries with the public, but this did not produce results, and there was more fiction in their stories than truth. Data about what and who discovered at sea or on the coastal strip was lost and forgotten; no one had updated the maps for a long time. The skippers were simply afraid to go out to sea, because not everyone had navigation skills.
Henry built a citadel near Cape Sagres, created a school of navigation and sent expeditions, collecting information about the winds at sea, distant peoples and shores. The period of great geographical discoveries began with his activities.
Among the discoveries of Portuguese travelers are:
- Madeira Island,
- West Coast of Africa,
- Cape Verde,
- Cape of Good Hope,
- Azores,
- Congo River.
Why was it necessary to find new lands?
The list of reasons for the advent of the era of navigation includes:
- active development of crafts and trade;
- the growth of European cities during the 15th and 16th centuries;
- depletion of known precious metals mines;
- the development of maritime navigation and the appearance of the compass;
- interrupt economic ties Southern Europe with China and India after .
Important points
Significant periods that have gone down in history, times when famous travelers made their trips and expeditions:
The Age of Discovery began in 1492, when America was discovered;
- 1500 - exploration of the mouth of the Amazon;
- 1513 - Vasco de Balboa discovers the Pacific Ocean;
- 1519-1553 – conquest of South America;
- 1576-1629 – Russian campaigns in Siberia;
- 1603-1638 - exploration of Canada;
- 1642-1643 – visit to Tasmania and New Zealand;
- 1648 – exploration of Kamchatka.
Conquest of South America
Spanish and Portuguese sailors
At the same time as the Portuguese, famous travelers in Spain began to undertake sea voyages. , having good knowledge of geography and navigation, suggested that the country's rulers reach India by another route, heading west across the Atlantic Ocean. The one who later discovered many new lands was given three caravels, on which brave sailors left the port on August 3, 1492.
By the beginning of October they arrived at the first island, which became known as San Salvador, and later they discovered Haiti and Cuba. It was Columbus's seminal voyage that put the Caribbean islands on the map. Then there were two more, pointing the way to Central and South America.
Christopher Columbus - a mysterious person
First he visited the island of Cuba, and only then discovered America. Columbus was surprised to meet a civilized people on the island who had a rich culture and grew cotton, tobacco and potatoes. Cities were decorated large statues and large buildings.
Interesting! Everyone knows the name of Christopher Columbus. However, very little is known about his life and travels.
The birth of this legendary navigator is still debated. Several cities lay claim to being the birthplace of Columbus, but this cannot be determined for certain. He took part in cruises on ships Mediterranean Sea, and later went on major expeditions from his native Portugal.
Ferdinand Magellan
Magellan was also from Portugal. Born in 1480. Early on, he was left without parents and tried to survive on his own by working as a messenger. Since childhood, he was attracted by the sea, attracted by the thirst for travel and discovery.
At the age of 25, Ferdinand set sail for the first time. He learned quickly maritime profession, remaining off the coast of India, and soon became a captain. He wanted to return to his homeland, talking about beneficial cooperation with the East, but achieved results only with the coming to power of Charles the First.
Important! The era of great geographical discoveries began in the middle of the 15th century. Magellan warned her advance by committing trip around the world.
In 1493, Magellan leads an expedition west of Spain. He has a goal: to prove that the islands there belong to his country. No one thought that the journey would become around the world, and the navigator would discover many new things along the way. The one who opened the way to the “South Sea” did not return home, but died in the Philippines. His team arrived home only in 1522.
Russian discoverers
Representatives of Russia and their discoveries joined the orderly ranks of famous European navigators. Several people made great contributions to improving the world map. outstanding personalities that are worth knowing about.
Thaddeus Bellingshausen
Bellingshausen was the first who dared to lead an expedition to the uncharted shores of Antarctica, and around the world. This event took place in 1812. The navigator set out to prove or disprove the existence of a sixth continent, which was only talked about. The expedition crossed the Indian Ocean, the Pacific, and the Atlantic. Its participants made a great contribution to the development of geography. The expedition under the command of Captain 2nd Rank Bellingshausen lasted 751 days.
Interesting! Previously, attempts were made to reach Antarctica, but they all failed; only famous Russian travelers turned out to be luckier and more persistent.
The navigator Bellingshausen went down in history as the discoverer of many species of animals and more than 20 large islands. The captain was one of the few who managed to find his own path, follow it and not destroy obstacles.
Nikolai Przhevalsky
Among the Russian travelers there was one who discovered most Central Asia. Nikolai Przhevalsky always dreamed of visiting unknown Asia. This continent attracted him. The navigator led each of the four expeditions that explored Central Asia. Curiosity led to the discovery and study of such mountain systems, like Kun-Lun and the ranges of Northern Tibet. The sources of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, as well as Lob-nora and Kuhu-nora, were explored. Nikolai was the second explorer after Marco Polo to reach Lop Nor.
Przhevalsky, like other travelers of the era of great geographical discoveries, considered himself happy man, because fate gave him the opportunity to explore mysterious countries Asian world. Many species of animals that he described during his travels are named after him.
The first Russian circumnavigation
Ivan Krusenstern and his colleague Yuri Lisyansky firmly inscribed their names in the history of great discoveries in geography. They led the first expedition around globe, which lasted more than three years - from 1803 to 1806. During this period, sailors on two ships crossed the Atlantic, sailed through Cape Horn, and then across the waters Pacific Ocean arrived to Kamchatka. There, researchers studied the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin Island. Their coastline was clarified, and data on all the waters visited by the expedition was also included on the map. Krusenstern compiled an atlas of the Pacific Ocean.
The expedition under the command of the admiral became the first to cross the equator. This event was celebrated in accordance with traditions.
Exploration of the Eurasian continent
Eurasia is a huge continent, but the only person, who would open it is problematic to name.
One moment is surprising. If everything is clear with America and Antarctica, the illustrious names of the great navigators are reliably inscribed in the history of their existence, then the laurels of the man who discovered Europe never went to him, because he simply does not exist.
If we ignore the search for one navigator, we can list many names who contributed to the study of the surrounding world and took part in expeditions on the mainland and its coastal zone. Europeans are accustomed to consider themselves only explorers of Eurasia, but Asian navigators and their discoveries are no less in scale.
Historians know which of the Russian writers traveled around the world, except for the famous navigators. He was Ivan Goncharov, who took part in the expedition on a military sailing ship. His impressions of the trip resulted in a large collection of diaries describing distant countries.
The meaning of cartography
People could hardly move across the sea without good navigation. Previously, their main reference point was the starry sky at night and the sun during the day. Many maps during the period of great geographical discoveries were dependent on the sky. Since the 17th century, a map has been preserved on which the scientist plotted all the known coastal zones and continents, but Siberia and North America remained unknown, because no one knew how far they were and how far the continents themselves extended.
The most information-rich atlases were those of Gerard van Coelen. Captains and famous travelers crossing the Atlantic were grateful for the details of Iceland, Holland and Labrador being mapped.
Unusual information
Preserved in history Interesting Facts about travelers:
- James Cook became the first person to visit all six continents.
- Navigators and their discoveries changed the appearance of many lands, for example, James Cook brought sheep to the islands of Tahiti and New Zealand.
- Che Guevara before his revolutionary activities was a motorcycle rider, he made a 4 thousand kilometer tour around South America.
- Charles Darwin traveled on a ship where he wrote his greatest work on evolution. But they didn’t want to take the man on board, and it was the shape of the nose. It seemed to the captain that such a person would not be able to cope with a long load. Darwin had to be away from the team and buy his own uniform.
Age of Great Geographical Discovery 15th - 17th centuries
Great Discoverers
Conclusion
Thanks to the heroism and determination of sailors, people received valuable information about the world. This was the impetus for many changes, contributed to the development of trade, the industrial sector, and the strengthening of relationships with other nations. The most important thing was in a practical way proven to have a round shape.