Vitus Bering in 1703, graduated from the Amsterdam Sea Cadet Corps, sailed to the East Indies on a Dutch ship. In the same year, Admiral Cornelius Cruys invited the young Danish sailor in Russia. Here it becomes a non-commissioned lieutenant of the fleet and slowly rises through the ranks from the lowest officers, the rank of commander before the largest in the Russian navy ship devyanostopushechnym "Forest". In early 1724, for unknown reasons Behring submits his resignation. The Admiralty granted the request of Bering. But after only five months, the Russian Tsar Peter the Great personally commanded "to take the captain Vitus Bering to the service of His Majesty's Navy is still the first rank of captain." And four months later, on Dec. 23, 1724, shortly before his death, Peter ordered to equip the Kamchatka expedition and appointed her chief of Vitus Bering. By early 18 th century remained unresolved question is connected whether Asia and America? This question must be resolved expedition. While still in 1648, Simon Dezhnev passed the strait, which we now call the Bering Sea. But his message is simply not noticed. Going from Nizhnekamchatsk along the coast of Chukotka, Bering Bering through the current of showers came into the Arctic Ocean. The width of the strait is only 85 kilometers, but Behring because of the "fog of sputum has not seen its shores. Another two days Behring continued to sail north-northeast, and not finding any land, it is easy to reverse course later Bering began to accuse the fact that he failed to comply with the order, got cold feet, do not prove the existence of the American coast Anianskogo Strait. But ... Reread again and again "Instruction" by Peter becomes convinced that the task set before him, Behring fully implemented. He became convinced that the cape Dezhneva Asian coast turns sharply and goes to the west-northwest. This was confirmed by local residents Chukchi. A statement read: "... Find where onaya Asia consorted with America." Consequently Behring fulfilled his job strictly according to instructions. Upon returning to St. Petersburg, Bering wrote a petition to allow him to go to a new expedition. After some time, this permission was granted and the expedition set out. There was a lot of difficulties. Some time had to stay in Yakutsk, yotom - in the Okhotsk and only in 1740 packet-boats "St. Peter and St. Paul were built, and wintered on the Kamchatka Peninsula, where the city was founded" Saints Peter and Paul Ra "- the modern Petropavlovsk - 4 May 1741 went on a voyage to the shores of America. Packet-boats under the arrangement were to stick together. Behring was on "St. Peter". But on June 20 in the fog dispersed and the ships lost each other. Both of them reached the shores of America, "Saint Paul" in two days on previously. Sixteenth day of July with "St. Peter" noticed an unusually high mountains covered with snow. However, due to contrary winds could approach the shore only to the twentieth. It was the bank of America! On the beach were sent to a large boat for a closer "to scout the bay, the boat to find drinking water. Behring does not want to stay and go ashore and requires a hurry to go farther. In this voyage was a famous naturalist Steller. After the arranged scandal Behring allows him go for a few hours ashore. Return was not easy. Not one night went by some of the islands. was the end of August. Behring hurry. Many people began to notice signs of scurvy in their own. Aug. 31 died the first man. "St. Peter" is still going along ridge of the Aleutian Islands. Almost all of the storm. The ship continued to rage scurvy. One by one people died. himself Captain-Commander hardly get out of bed. On the morning November 4th saw land - the high mountains covered with snow. Try to approach the shore, but to no avail . Waxell and Steller went on the boat to the island. Steller surprised trusting animals. He doubted that this Kamchatka. The next day was moved to the shore all the patients. Captain Commander guessed that this is not the Kamchatka. But he did not know what it is here he was fated to die, did not know that this island is called Bering Island, and the entire archipelago - Commander.
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