GRIGORIY SHELIKHOV.

Long time ago Russian seamen explored a considerable part of the North American coast and Alaska.

The first explorers came to the coast of Alaska at the beginning of the 18^th century. Since then the number of Russian settlements in Alaska grew from year to year; they extended to the south where San Francisco stands today. Alaska was Russian territory for a long period of time.

In the summer of 1783 Grigoryi Shelikhov built two ships on which he went to the coast of America, bounding for Kodak. After a difficult journey he finally reached the island where he founded a Russian settlement. He established friendly relations with the Eskimos living there. Shelikhov set up a school for the natives where they studied Russian and arithmetic. Besides he sent young Eskimos to Irkutsk and Okhotsk where they continued their studies.

Grigoryi Shelikhov fitted out several expeditions to explore the north – western part of America and make maps of the coast. He promoted immigration of Russian to America and established regular communication with that distant land.

On his return Shelikhov wrote and published in 1791, two books about his travels in America. They were translated into German and English. The famous Russian poet Derzhavin called Shelikhov the Russian Columbus.

II. Give Russian equivalents:

1. to establish friendly relations;

2. a considerable part of the coast;

3. to extend to the south;

III. Answer the questions:

1. What did Russian seaman explore long time ago?

2. Alaska wasn’t Russian territory for a long period of time, was it?

3. Why did Shelikhov fit out several expeditions?

Не нашли, что искали? Воспользуйтесь поиском: