Scientific exploration of the Tian Shan (Semenov)
Exploración científica del Tian Shan (Semiónov)
- Date
- 1856-1857 · confidence high
- Place
- Lake Issyk-Kul and the Tian Shan, Kyrgyzstan
- Credited to
- Pyotr Semyonov (later Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky)
- Field
- Cosmos & Earth
What was discovered
The Russian geographer was the first European to explore scientifically Lake Issyk-Kul and the central Tian Shan peaks, with altitude measurements and observations of glaciers and geology. He refuted Humboldt's idea that the range was volcanic.
Semyonov reached Issyk-Kul in 1856 and explored the Tian Shan in 1857; his account of the expedition was presented to the Russian Geographical Society.
What it led to
- the first scientific map of the Tian Shan
- later Russian expeditions in Central Asia (Przhevalsky, Fedchenko)
- he added «Tian Shan» to his surname by imperial decree (1906)