Matas Šalčius
Encyclopedia
Matas Šalčius was a Lithuania
n traveler, journalist, writer, political figure.
Šalčius was born in Čiudiškiai village in modern Prienai district, central Lithuania (at that time Russian Empire
). He attended a gymnasium in Marijampolė
. While studying he began writing articles for newspapers launching his career in journalism. Šalčius later worked as a teacher in Šilutė district. He was a prominent critic of tsarist Russia so soon he had flee from political persecution. Then Šalčius began his first travel through China
, Japan
to the USA where he continued his work as a journalist.
After Lithuania gained independence
in 1918, Šalčius returned to Lithuania and worked as a journalist (he was the director of ELTA
news agency). He helped to establish the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union. Šalčius traveled across the Europe, attempted to launch the tourism
industry in Lithuania. In 1929, Šalčius together with other famous Lithuanian traveler Antanas Poška began a great journey through the Balkans
, Greece
, Egypt
, Near East
to India
. After this travel he published six-volume series Svečiuose pas 40 tautų (At the company of 40 nations), which was awarded the National Press Prize.
In 1936, Šalčius traveled to the South America
. At first he unsuccessfully attempted to unite Lithuanian diaspora communities in the South America. Šalčius planned to journey through all the Americas
to Alaska
, but he became sick with malaria
and encephalitis
and died in town of Guayaramerín
, Bolivia
. In 2005, an expedition organized by Lithuanian travelers and journalists reached Guayaramerín and marked the approximate location of Šalčius burial by a bas-relief.
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n traveler, journalist, writer, political figure.
Šalčius was born in Čiudiškiai village in modern Prienai district, central Lithuania (at that time Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
). He attended a gymnasium in Marijampolė
Marijampole
Marijampolė is an industrial city and the capital of the Marijampolė County in the south of Lithuania, bordering Poland and Russian Kaliningrad oblast, and Lake Vištytis. The population of Marijampolė is 48,700...
. While studying he began writing articles for newspapers launching his career in journalism. Šalčius later worked as a teacher in Šilutė district. He was a prominent critic of tsarist Russia so soon he had flee from political persecution. Then Šalčius began his first travel through China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
to the USA where he continued his work as a journalist.
After Lithuania gained independence
Act of Independence of Lithuania
The Act of Independence of Lithuania or Act of February 16 was signed by the Council of Lithuania on February 16, 1918, proclaiming the restoration of an independent State of Lithuania, governed by democratic principles, with Vilnius as its capital. The Act was signed by all twenty...
in 1918, Šalčius returned to Lithuania and worked as a journalist (he was the director of ELTA
ELTA
ELTA is a Lithuanian news agency based in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius.ELTA was founded in 1920 in Kaunas, the second largest city in Lithuania, by Juozas Eretas, the first director of the agency, a literature professor, publicist, and public figure of Swiss descent who sought to make the ELTA...
news agency). He helped to establish the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union. Šalčius traveled across the Europe, attempted to launch the tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
industry in Lithuania. In 1929, Šalčius together with other famous Lithuanian traveler Antanas Poška began a great journey through the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Near East
Near East
The Near East is a geographical term that covers different countries for geographers, archeologists, and historians, on the one hand, and for political scientists, economists, and journalists, on the other...
to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. After this travel he published six-volume series Svečiuose pas 40 tautų (At the company of 40 nations), which was awarded the National Press Prize.
In 1936, Šalčius traveled to the South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. At first he unsuccessfully attempted to unite Lithuanian diaspora communities in the South America. Šalčius planned to journey through all the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
to Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, but he became sick with malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
and encephalitis
Encephalitis
Encephalitis is an acute inflammation of the brain. Encephalitis with meningitis is known as meningoencephalitis. Symptoms include headache, fever, confusion, drowsiness, and fatigue...
and died in town of Guayaramerín
Guayaramerín
Guayaramerín is a city within the Bolivian Beni Department. It is the capital of the Guayaramerín Municipality in the Vaca Díez Province. Guayaramerín is located on the left side of Mamoré River, facing the Brazilian city of Guajará-Mirim. It is a port in which there is a permanent port of the...
, Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
. In 2005, an expedition organized by Lithuanian travelers and journalists reached Guayaramerín and marked the approximate location of Šalčius burial by a bas-relief.