Vittorio Bottego facts for kids
Vittorio Bottego was an Italian army officer and a brave explorer. He was born in Parma, Italy, on July 29, 1860. He is famous for being one of the first Westerners to explore a region in the Horn of Africa called Jubaland, which is now part of Gidami, West Wellega Ethiopia. Vittorio Bottego led two important expeditions there. He was a captain in the Italian Army, specializing in artillery. He died on March 17, 1897, in Dhaga Roba.
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Exploring Africa: Bottego's Expeditions
Vittorio Bottego led two major trips to explore parts of Africa that were not well known to Europeans at the time.
First Expedition (1892–1893)
In his first journey, Bottego wanted to find the sources of the Ganale Doria River. He named this river after an Italian scientist, Giacomo Doria.
Bottego and Captain Matteo Grixoni started their trip on September 30, 1892. They left from a place called Bardera with 124 men. They reached the Shebelle River at Imi on November 7. After eight days, they crossed this river and entered the land of the Arsi Oromo people, who were not friendly to them.
Bottego continued through Arkebla and reached the Ganale Guracha (which means "Black Ganale") on December 11. They followed this river upstream for 20 days.
Bottego realized this was not the main river he was looking for. So, he left the river and traveled southwest. On January 16, 1893, he finally reached the Ganale Doria River, which was the main part of the river system.
Bottego became sick with a fever. Captain Grixoni left him on February 15 with 30 men to head back to the coast. Four days later, Bottego pushed further inland towards Mount Fakes. However, he decided to turn back to the camp where Grixoni had left him because he did not want to meet raiding groups of Ethiopians.
Bottego then crossed the land to reach the Dawa River. He traveled up this river until his team ran out of food. They had to turn back. His group reached the Ganale Doria River again after six very difficult marches. During this time, eleven men died from hunger. Two more died in camp from being completely exhausted, and two drowned while hunting hippopotamuses.
Second Expedition (1895–1897)
In his second expedition, Bottego explored new areas. These included the upper Juba River, Lake Turkana, and the Sobat River. He was the first European explorer to follow the lower Omo River all the way to where it flows into Lake Turkana.
He also discovered Lake Abaya. He renamed it Lake Margherita in honor of Queen Margherita of Savoy, who was the wife of King Umberto I of Italy.
Bottego then tried to return through Ethiopia. He did not know that Italy was at war with Ethiopia. He also did not know that Ethiopia had recently won a big battle at Adwa. He was killed in the Maji range near Jellen when an Oromo tribe attacked him.
His body was never found. The story of his death was told years later by two of his companions, Vannutelli and Citerni. They survived but were kept in prison for two years by Menelik II, the emperor of Ethiopia.
Animals Named After Bottego
Vittorio Bottego is remembered in the scientific names of several animals. Two types of lizards are named after him: Agama bottegi and Chalcides bottegi. Also, one type of turtle is named Pelusios sinuatus bottegi.
Two types of fish are also named after him: Neobola bottegoi and Labeo bottegi.
See also
In Spanish: Vittorio Bottego para niños
