Aleksandr Stepanovich Kuchin: the Russian who went south with Amundsen

Abstract Aleksandr Stepanovich Kuchin (1888–1912) was already an experienced mariner and oceanographer when Amundsen invited him to join the Fram expedition of 1910–12. Expecting a voyage through the Barents Sea, Kuchin found himself on an expedition to the Antarctic. While Amundsen's sledging...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polar Record
Main Author: Barr, William
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1985
Subjects:
General Earth and Planetary Sciences
Ecology
Geography, Planning and Development
Antarctic
The Antarctic
Svalbard
Barents Sea
Kara Sea
Bering Strait
South Pole
Antarc*
Northern Sea Route
Polar Record
South pole
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247400005647
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247400005647
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Summary:Abstract Aleksandr Stepanovich Kuchin (1888–1912) was already an experienced mariner and oceanographer when Amundsen invited him to join the Fram expedition of 1910–12. Expecting a voyage through the Barents Sea, Kuchin found himself on an expedition to the Antarctic. While Amundsen's sledging parties sought the South Pole, Kuchin remained with the ship, completing an excellent oceanographic survey of the southern Atlantic Ocean. Returning to Russia in 1912 he was recruited, by the geologist and explorer V. A. Rusinov to join a scientific expedition to Svalbard. As deputy leader of the party and captain of Gerkules , the expedition ship, Kuchin played an important role in the Svalbard survey. Then once again found himself heading in an unexpected direction: on completing the Svalbard work, Rusanov decided to attempt the Northern Sea Route to the Bering Strait. Gerkules disappeared and was never seen again; her loss, presumably in the Kara Sea, brought to an untimely end the career of a promising young polar explorer.

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