Recalling great people - Rusanov Vladimir Alexandrovich Russian Arctic explorer
When guests come to us free time we devote to local attractions. We have a small town, there are not so many of them, but we find that to visit, it happens that it is repeated, but we are still interested. Each time, then we discuss, remember along the way, what we used to know, we study in addition on the Internet.
Last summer, among other things, we visited the house-museum of V.A. Rusanov, a famous polar explorer. He did not return from the last expedition of 1912. It was aimed at exploring the Northern Sea Route. So it is not known what caused the death of the expedition and where it happened. Place of death V.A. Rusanov marked the Kara Sea, the date remained in question.
V. A. Rusanov was born in the city of Orel in a merchant family. There he spent his childhood and years of study at the gymnasium and theological seminary. His father died early, before he died, he went bankrupt. Mom, with the help of her stepfather, did her best to give the child a good education. But Basil was of little interest in studying, he was even excluded for poor progress. Already at that time he was fond of reading books about travelers, he studied maps with great interest. Collected collections of stones. His life took shape in defiance of the parental will. Perhaps because of dissatisfaction with the studies chosen by his parents, he becomes a member of a revolutionary underground group and was one of its active members. Immediately after graduating from the seminary, Vasily was convicted of participation in the revolutionary movement. He was then only 22 years old. Only 2 years later, he was released under secret police surveillance. Two years later they were sent into exile in Ust-Sysolsk (r. Komi). Hot blood of a young man slightly suspended in the post statistics of the Zemstvo administration. But in his heart he was a researcher of the unknown, and devoted all his free time to studying the local region. He discovered new waterways between the rivers in the province, where he was serving a link.
Two years later, a turning point came again in the fate of V.A. Rusanova. He emigrates to France. There was a reason. In Russia, he received a ban on living in large cities, which meant a taboo on the realization of his dreams. And already outside the country, it came true. In France, V.A. Rusanov received education geologist - in 1907 he graduated from the natural department of the University of Paris. He showed great persistence in his studies, received the right to defend his doctoral dissertation.
Returns to Russia, visited his hometown Orel. And already in 1908 he took part in a French scientific expedition to Novaya Zemlya (led by S. Benard). The following year there was another expedition. And in 1910, 1911, V.A. Rusanov is already the leader of scientific expeditions to Novaya Zemlya. He crossed on foot one of the largest European islands of the North in 1908. A year earlier, he explored a strait called Matochkin Shar.
His travels were successful, each of them more and more expanded the knowledge of the New Earth, thereby strengthening its authority, guaranteeing success. But the last expedition in 1912 was tragic. V.A. Rusanov was appointed head of the expedition to Svalbard. The vessel called “Hercules” in July 1912 with 14 members of the expedition set off from Aleksandrovsk-on-Murman. The return period was scheduled after three months, but the supply of food and equipment was quite impressive, designed for a longer period. It turns out that V.A. Rusanov had his own plans, because he was full of enthusiasm to study, discover the previously unknown. He was a brave and enthusiastic man. The expedition fulfilled its program in August; rich deposits of coal were discovered. The last news from the expedition was dated 08.18.1912. Rusanov sent a telegram to the mainland, that everyone is healthy, the reserves will be enough for another year, but surrounded by ice.
Only in January 1914. was instructed to organize a search expedition. Attracted also polar aircraft. The search for results did not yield, and it was not clear under what circumstances the expedition members were killed. Already in 1934 not far from the sea coast of the central part of the Taimyr Peninsula, a pole dug into the ground with the inscription “Hercules.1913” and remnants of things of the participants of the expedition V.A. Rusanova. Apparently, due to unfavorable ice conditions, they were forced to stop for the winter in this place. Perhaps lost, mobile radio stations at the time was not, only stationary, which could fail.
In the old once merchant quarter of the city of Orel, on 12/25/1982, the house-museum of V.A. Rusanov, in his honor named street.
In the rooms of the museum preserved ancient interior. In this house he spent his childhood years, received his first education, here he was returning from his expeditions.
Entrance from the courtyard of the house-museum of V.A. Rusanova
The museum has saved his last letter to his mother and stepfather in Orel, in which he wrote about his plans to return to his homeland. Unfortunately, they did not come true. V.A. Rusanov lived a short life, only 38 years old, she broke off tragically.
For many years, a good tradition has been established in the museum in his honor - to accompany the recruits of the city to the naval service. And how many different events are produced by the museum staff, thematic lectures, meetings with schoolchildren and students. Reserve naval officers visit the museum on fleet holidays. And it was interesting to us adults to study the museum expositions, listen to the fascinating story of the guide about the life, hobbies, discoveries of the great Arctic explorer.