Contrary to the arguments of Cook, 200 years ago, Russian navigators dispelled specs on unknown southern earth. Until now, in America, they are trying to chain the championship of Russia, but the laurels of the lavetles of the coldest continent remains for the inhabitants of this particular country. About how the history of the opening of Antarctica was originated, in the editorial material 24cm.
In the beginning it was ...
In 1502, Amerigo Vespucci only guess the existence of a mysterious mainland. James Cook in the 1775th reached the Antarctic Waters and turned, frightened frost, and the public stated that it would be impossible to swim, the continent probably does not exist.
However, the presence of Padunov, or Icebergs, testified to the shores. A guessed about the existence of land in southern high latitudes confirmed Mikhail Lomonosov.
Look at south
The idea of the Russian expedition was supported by Emperor Alexander I. The position of the Chief was appointed Bellingshausen. Mikhail Lazarev was invited to manage the second vessel.
For projects of Russian engineers, two gaters were converted. The masters strengthened the case in case you have to meet ice.
The navigators were not going to repeat the history of Cook and become a "dinner for aboriginal", so by order of Alexander I on the boat were loaded knives and decorations that will become exchanged currency.
Let's hit the road
On July 16, 1819, on two East and Mirny Sluts, the navigaters under the leadership of Faddey Bellinshausen went on the road. The mission was complicated by the difference in the characteristics of the boats. "Mirny" was adapted to the polar waters, but he was slow, and the "east" experienced difficulties in the ice waters. The crews were required to make efforts to resist in sight of each other. In the way of the part of the boats, they were unpleasant.Bellinshausen canceled corporal punishment on the gaters to rally the team. During the trip, the expedition lost only three people: two sailors fell off the mast, and one died of illness.
On the threshold of discovery
There were no connections with travelers. The commander gave the authority to choose the route and set the tasks of the crew. Bellinshausen went to meet chairs, maneuvering among ice and icebergs. In the Indian Ocean, the team was left without sails and survived a storm, in which he barely faced a huge cliff.
Finally, on January 28, 1820, the navigaters saw the clouds strip, and only then it became clear that these were ice. Flat Ice Islands, broken from the mainland, indicated that the expedition reached the target. Antarctica met ice extraordinary height.
The ships walked along the ice hormones, opening new islands. One of the shores called the land of Alexander I. The expedition lasted 751 days.
What do we argue about, gentlemen?
Until the middle of the XX century, in the championship of Russian navigators did not doubt. Everything has changed when deposits of fossils were found on Antarctica. The legend has emerged about the opening of the mainland hunter on Nathaniel Palmer's sea cats, who saw a part of Grayama Earth in November 1820.
However, the claim is not justified. The tasks of the Russian expedition included the discovery of land, which was confirmed by the sketches of the artist Pavel Mikhailov, and the species of the American hunter are based only on personal sensations.
The names of the heroes are recorded in ice
Today, the mainland has been declared a neutral territory on which scientific research is allowed. 2020th in Russia declared the Year of Antarctica. The 200th anniversary of the opening of the mainland will be held festive events.
About how it was, can be seen in the 1972 animation film. The memory of the feat of Russian navigators will remain in generations.