In the steps of Przewalski in Asia - O'Hanlon's Heroes

Описание: In the sixth episode of the first season, O'Hanlon travels in the footsteps of the explorer Nikolaj Przewalski (1839 - 1888). Przewalski was a Russian soldier who hated the army and preferred expeditions through Central Asia. He was the first Western scientist to describe the landscape, flora and fauna of that vast region and discovered, among other things, the Przewalski's horse named after him.

In 1867 he started his first expedition, exploring the area around the river Ussuri and the Chankameer, to the border with China. As with later expeditions in Central Asia, he gets the money he needs for his journey from commissions and authorities who want him to map unfamiliar territory for military purposes; they want information about the borders of surrounding countries, the indigenous people and the routes over land and water there. The Great Game plays in the background, a period in which the Russians and the British compete for political, economic and military influence over Central Asia. Przewalski unwittingly becomes a link in this, but he is more interested in discovering local flora and fauna. In 1879 he writes, traveling through Mongolia:
'The richness of animals nears the incredible. In spite of the unfavorable climate, despite the fact that these areas have been treated harshly by nature, masses of animals live here, and they can only live their poor lives because they roam from grassland to pasture ground. Neither cold nor storms, or food and water shortage seem to prevent their multiplication.'

In this episode, O'Hanlon meets with the family of Przewalski, in Moscou.

Original title: De vader van Stalin
Author and adventurer Redmond O'Hanlon follows in the footsteps of his nineteenth century heroes: explorers who traveled the world and made the wildest discoveries.
Presented by: Redmond O'Hanlon
© VPRO January 2012

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