Vitus Bering: the Discoverer of Bering Strait

The book traces the life and voyages of Vitus Bering, recounting his first voyage that charted the strait between continents and the later Great Northern Expedition that mapped vast stretches of Arctic and Pacific coasts. It follows the logistical challenges of Siberian overland travel, shipbuilding, separations of squadrons, coastal surveys, and the discovery of the Aleutian chain, including the harsh winter on an island where many died and a naturalist produced lasting descriptions of local fauna. The narrative assesses controversies over credit and navigation, presents cartographic results and reports from the expedition, and concludes with the leader's death, the expedition's dispersal, and the archival fate of its documents.