«What a Bliss it is to See Nature in its Very Being ...»

Andrei K. SYTIN, Lev Ya. BORKIN

Unexplored Siberia has attracted pioneer naturalists since early 18th century. Works by Russia’s scholars D. G. Messerschmitt, J. G. Gmelin, G. W. Steller, S. P. Krasheninnikov and V. N. Tatishchev devoted to the nature and peoples inhabiting these remote lands were great scientific contributions. Their worthy follower was Peter Simon Pallas, a professor of St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences.

Born in Berlin, Pallas moved to Russia in July 1767 and immediately joined a large state-run scientific project: preparation of long exploratory journeys aimed at studying “the three kingdoms of nature”, i. e., Russia’s flora, fauna and natural resources. The 26-year-old scholar was appointed the leader of a detachment of the so-called Orenburg expedition and was given a team of eight people. His focus of interest was Middle and Lower Volga region, southern Urals and Siberia.

More information on these and other subjects you can find in the printed version of our journal.