In 1741, a Russian expedition led by Danish-born explorer Vitus Bering reached the shores of Alaska during a major voyage of exploration across the North Pacific. Bering served in the Russian navy and commanded the Second Kamchatka Expedition, which aimed to explore the waters between Asia and North America.
The expedition consisted of two ships, the St Peter, commanded by Bering, and the St Paul, commanded by Aleksei Chirikov. The vessels left Kamchatka in June 1741 but became separated during a storm and continued their journeys independently.
Land comes into view
Chirikov’s ship sighted land in Southeast Alaska on July 15, 1741, while Bering and his crew saw the Alaskan mainland several days later. The crew of the St Peter sighted the snow-covered mountains of the St Elias range before sailing towards the coast.
On July 20, members of Bering’s crew landed on Kayak Island. Naturalist Georg Wilhelm Steller explored the area and recorded evidence of human habitation, including signs of a recent fire and other objects left by local inhabitants.
The expedition’s encounters provided Europeans with some of the earliest detailed information about the Pacific coast of Alaska. Bering’s voyage also opened the way for further Russian exploration and the development of the fur trade in the region.
A voyage with a tragic ending
The return journey proved disastrous. Bering’s ship was damaged and eventually wrecked on an island in the Commander Islands. Bering died there in December 1741, along with many members of his crew. The island was later named Bering Island in his honour.
Bering’s name would also become associated with the Bering Strait, Bering Sea and Bering Glacier, reflecting the lasting importance of his exploration of the waters between Asia and North America.
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