Semion Chelyuskin
Encyclopedia
Semyon Ivanovich Chelyuskin (c.
1700 – 1764) was a Russian polar
explorer and naval officer.
Chelyuskin graduated from the Navigation School in Moscow
. He first became a deputy navigator
while serving in the Baltic Fleet
(1726) and later promoted to navigator (1733). Chelyuskin was chosen for the Second (Great Northern) Kamchatka Expedition, in which he took part until 1743. He participated in expeditions, led by Vasily Pronchischev and Khariton Laptev
. In spring of 1741, Chelyuskin made a voyage from the Khatanga River
to the Pyasina River
by land. He described the western coastline from the Taimyr Peninsula to the Middendorff Bay
and then from the mouth of Pyasina to the mouth of the Yenisei River
. In winter of 1741–1742, he traveled from Turukhansk
to the mouth of the Khatanga River, describing the northern coastline of the Taimyr Peninsula from the Cape Faddey on the East to the mouth of the Taimyra River on the West. Chelyuskin found the northern extremity of Asia
, which Aleksandr Fyodorovich Middendorf would later name after him in 1843 (Cape Chelyuskin
).
He was discharged from the Baltic Fleet in the rank of a captain
in 1760.
In 1930s the Soviet Union
operated a steamship, built in Denmark
in 1933, which was named after Semion Chelyuskin (see the Chelyuskin steamship
). It sank in the Chukchi Sea
near Kolyuchin Island
during an ill-fated attempt to cover the Northern Sea Route
.
Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
1700 – 1764) was a Russian polar
Polar region
Earth's polar regions are the areas of the globe surrounding the poles also known as frigid zones. The North Pole and South Pole being the centers, these regions are dominated by the polar ice caps, resting respectively on the Arctic Ocean and the continent of Antarctica...
explorer and naval officer.
Chelyuskin graduated from the Navigation School in Moscow
Moscow School of Mathematics and Navigation
Moscow School of Mathematics and Navigation was a Russian educational institution founded by Peter the Great in 1701 and situated in the Sukharev Tower. It provided Russians with technical education for the first time and much of its curriculum was devoted to producing sailors, engineers,...
. He first became a deputy navigator
Navigator
A navigator is the person on board a ship or aircraft responsible for its navigation. The navigator's primary responsibility is to be aware of ship or aircraft position at all times. Responsibilities include planning the journey, advising the Captain or aircraft Commander of estimated timing to...
while serving in the Baltic Fleet
Baltic Fleet
The Twice Red Banner Baltic Fleet - is the Russian Navy's presence in the Baltic Sea. In previous historical periods, it has been part of the navy of Imperial Russia and later the Soviet Union. The Fleet gained the 'Twice Red Banner' appellation during the Soviet period, indicating two awards of...
(1726) and later promoted to navigator (1733). Chelyuskin was chosen for the Second (Great Northern) Kamchatka Expedition, in which he took part until 1743. He participated in expeditions, led by Vasily Pronchischev and Khariton Laptev
Khariton Laptev
Khariton Prokofievich Laptev was a Russian naval officer and Arctic explorer.Khariton Laptev was born in a gentry family in the village of Pokarevo near Velikiye Luki , just a year before his cousin Dmitry Laptev was born in the nearby village of Bolotovo.Khariton Laptev started his career in the...
. In spring of 1741, Chelyuskin made a voyage from the Khatanga River
Khatanga River
The Khatanga River is a river in Krasnoyarsk Krai in Russia. It begins at the confluence of the rivers Kotuy and Kheta. The Khatanga River is long; the area of its basin is 364,000 km². It flows into the Khatanga Gulf of the Laptev Sea, forming an estuary...
to the Pyasina River
Pyasina River
Pyasina River is a river in Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia. The length of the river is . The area of its basin is 182,000 km². The Pyasina River originates in the Lake Pyasino and flows into the Pyasino Gulf of the Kara Sea. There are more than 60,000 lakes in the basin of the Pyasina covering...
by land. He described the western coastline from the Taimyr Peninsula to the Middendorff Bay
Middendorff Bay
The Middendorff Bay, is a deeply indented bay in the shores of the Taymyr Peninsula. It is located southwest of the Nordenskiöld Archipelago in the Kara Sea and it is open towards the west. This bay is limited on its eastern side by the Zarya Peninsula, named after Baron Eduard von Toll's ship Zarya...
and then from the mouth of Pyasina to the mouth of the Yenisei River
Yenisei River
Yenisei , also written as Yenisey, is the largest river system flowing to the Arctic Ocean. It is the central of the three great Siberian rivers that flow into the Arctic Ocean...
. In winter of 1741–1742, he traveled from Turukhansk
Turukhansk
Turukhansk is a village in Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia. It is located 1474 km north of Krasnoyarsk, at the confluence of the Yenisei and Lower Tunguska rivers. The Turukhan River joins the Yenisei about 20 km northwest. Population: 4,849 ; 8,900 ; 200...
to the mouth of the Khatanga River, describing the northern coastline of the Taimyr Peninsula from the Cape Faddey on the East to the mouth of the Taimyra River on the West. Chelyuskin found the northern extremity of Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, which Aleksandr Fyodorovich Middendorf would later name after him in 1843 (Cape Chelyuskin
Cape Chelyuskin
Cape Chelyuskin is the northernmost point of the Eurasian continent , and the northernmost point of mainland Russia. It is situated at the tip of the Taymyr Peninsula, south of Severnaya Zemlya archipelago, in Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia...
).
He was discharged from the Baltic Fleet in the rank of a captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
in 1760.
In 1930s the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
operated a steamship, built in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
in 1933, which was named after Semion Chelyuskin (see the Chelyuskin steamship
Chelyuskin steamship
SS Chelyuskin was a Soviet steamship reinforced to navigate through polar ice that became ice-bound in Arctic waters during navigation along the Northern Maritime Route from Murmansk to Vladivostok...
). It sank in the Chukchi Sea
Chukchi Sea
Chukchi Sea is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean. It is bounded on the west by the De Long Strait, off Wrangel Island, and in the east by Point Barrow, Alaska, beyond which lies the Beaufort Sea. The Bering Strait forms its southernmost limit and connects it to the Bering Sea and the Pacific...
near Kolyuchin Island
Kolyuchin Island
Kolyuchin Island or Koliuchin Island is a small island in the Chukchi Sea. It is not far from the coast, being only from the northern shore of the Chukotka Peninsula. Its latitude is 67° 28' N and its longitude 174° 37' E....
during an ill-fated attempt to cover the Northern Sea Route
Northern Sea Route
The Northern Sea Route is a shipping lane officially defined by Russian legislation from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean specifically running along the Russian Arctic coast from Murmansk on the Barents Sea, along Siberia, to the Bering Strait and Far East. The entire route lies in Arctic...
.