Semyon Chelyuskin facts for kids
Semyon Ivanovich Chelyuskin (born around 1700, died 1764) was a brave Russian explorer. He was also a naval officer. He is famous for exploring the very cold polar regions of the Arctic.
Chelyuskin learned navigation at the Moscow School of Mathematics and Navigation. He started his career in the navy in 1726. He worked his way up from a deputy navigator to a full navigator by 1733. He served in the Baltic Fleet.
The Great Northern Expedition
Chelyuskin was chosen for a huge journey called the Great Northern Expedition. This expedition lasted until 1743. He explored parts of Siberia and the Arctic Ocean. He worked with other famous explorers like Vasily Pronchischev and Khariton Laptev.
Chelyuskin's Discoveries
In the spring of 1741, Chelyuskin traveled by land. He went from the Khatanga River to the Pyasina River. He described the western coast of the Taimyr Peninsula. This included the area from the Taimyr Peninsula to the Middendorff Bay. He also mapped the coast from the mouth of the Pyasina to the mouth of the Yenisei River.
In the winter of 1741–1742, he traveled from Turukhansk to the mouth of the Khatanga River. During this trip, he described the northern coastline of the Taimyr Peninsula. This area stretched from Faddey Bay in the east to the mouth of the Taimyra River in the west.
Chelyuskin found the northernmost point of Asia. Later, in 1843, another explorer named Aleksandr Fyodorovich Middendorf named this point Cape Chelyuskin in his honor.
Later Life
Chelyuskin left the Baltic Fleet in 1760. He had reached the rank of a captain.
Named in His Honor
Many places and things are named after Semyon Chelyuskin. These include:
- Cape Chelyuskin: This is the northernmost cape of Eurasia.
- Chelyuskin Peninsula: This is the northern tip of the Taymyr Peninsula.
- Chelyuskin Island: This island is near the Taymyr Peninsula.
- The famous Soviet Chelyuskin steamship.
- Some streets and settlements.
In the 1930s, the Soviet Union had a steamship named after him. It was built in Denmark in 1933. This ship, the Chelyuskin steamship, sank in the Chukchi Sea. It was trying to travel along the Northern Sea Route.
