Vassili Poyarkov facts for kids
Vassili Danilovich Poyarkov was a brave Russian explorer. He was the first Russian to explore the Amur River region. He lived in the 1600s. His journey helped Russia learn more about the vast lands of Siberia and the Far East.
Contents
Exploring New Lands: Why Russia Looked East
Russia began expanding into Siberia in 1582. By 1639, Russian explorers had reached the Pacific Ocean. This was near the mouth of the Ulya River.
East of the Yenisei River, much of the land was not good for farming. However, a place called Dauria was different. Dauria was located between the Stanovoy Mountains and the Amur River. This area was good for farming. China had some control over Dauria. Vassili Poyarkov was chosen to explore this important region.
The Great Journey: Poyarkov's Expedition Begins
In 1640, Vassili Poyarkov was working in Yakutsk. He was in charge of records and letters. In June 1643, Poyarkov started his big expedition. He left Yakutsk with 133 men. The governor of Yakutsk, Peter Golovin, sent them.
They did not know the best way to go. Poyarkov and his men traveled up several rivers. These included the Lena River, Aldan River, Uchur, and Gonam. They had to carry their boats and supplies 64 times. This slowed them down a lot.
Facing Winter in the Mountains
It was already early winter when they reached the Stanovoy Mountains. Poyarkov left 49 men to stay there for the winter. He then pushed south with the rest of his group. They crossed the mountains in December.
They reached the upper Zeya River. This area was home to the Daur people. Poyarkov found a land with farmers. These people had farm animals and proper houses. They also traded with the Chinese. The Daur people paid taxes to the Manchus. The Manchus were just starting to take over China.
Challenges and Hardship
Poyarkov built a winter fort near the Umelkan River. He tried to get supplies from the local people. However, his actions caused problems. This made it very hard to find food. His men faced extreme hunger. They struggled greatly to find food and survived on what they could find.
Down the Amur River: A Dangerous Path
By the spring of 1644, only 40 of Poyarkov's men were still alive. The group that had stayed behind for winter joined them. They then traveled down the Zeya River to the Amur River.
News of their difficult journey had reached the local people. So, Poyarkov's group had to fight their way down the Amur. They faced many surprise attacks. By autumn, they reached the land of the Nivkh people. This was near the mouth of the Amur River.
Building Boats and Heading Home
Poyarkov knew it was not safe to go back the same way. He had made many enemies. That winter, they built new boats. The next spring, they sailed along the Sea of Okhotsk coast. They reached the Ulia River.
They spent the next winter in huts built by Ivan Moskvitin six years earlier. The following spring, they followed Moskvitin's route. They traveled along the Maya River back to Yakutsk. They arrived almost exactly three years after they had left.
After the Expedition: A Mixed Outcome
Like many Russian explorers, Poyarkov did not receive a reward. His difficult interactions with the local people had caused problems. Even some of his own men were unhappy.
The governor of Yakutsk sent him to Moscow for a trial. His exact fate is not known. However, the authorities were happy with the information he brought back. His discoveries were very useful. The next Russian expedition to the Amur was led by Yerofey Khabarov in 1650.
See also
In Spanish: Vasili Poyárkov para niños
