Unknown southern land. Australia - the unknown southern land

Even in ancient times, when the inhabitants of the Mediterranean did not know how far the continents of Eurasia and Africa extended, legends circulated among sailors about a mysterious land in the south. It was depicted on most maps of the world and given names: Parrot Island, Locac, Anian. But most often it was called the Unknown Southern Land, the Mysterious Southern Land, the Unknown Southern Land, or simply the Southern Land, in Latin - Terra Australis or Terra Australis Incognita.

On the map of the Greek mathematician, astronomer and geographer Eratosthenes, the Unknown Southern Land is depicted as the tip of Africa. The historian Herodotus talked about the Phoenicians, who, by order of the Egyptian pharaoh Necho at the end of the 7th century. BC e. sailed around Africa. Coming out of the Red Sea, they sailed along the African coast. In the fall they landed on the shore, sowed grain, harvested the crops and moved on. In the third year of the voyage, they passed the Pillars of Hercules (as the Strait of Gibraltar was then called). But Herodotus himself considered the story of this journey implausible (in the southern hemisphere, sailors saw the sun on the starboard side). And the astronomer Hipparchus, who lived in the 2nd century. BC e., did not believe that Africa could be circumnavigated by sea. He believed that Africa and the Southern Land are connected, and, therefore, the Indian Ocean is a giant closed lake. Hipparchus thought that the island of Taprobane (Ceylon) was the northern tip of the Southern Land. Later it became clear that Ceylon is an island. On the map of Claudius Ptolemy, who lived in the 2nd century. AD, the Unknown Southern Land occupies the entire south and joins Africa, isolating the Indian Ocean from the Atlantic.

A thousand years after Ptolemy, the Arab cartographer Al-Idrisi, who served King Roger II of Sicily, created a world map on the orders of his ruler, which is considered the first scientific map. The geographer depicted the southern land as the huge eastern tip of Africa, but no longer connected it with Asia, leaving an ocean between them.

In 1559, in the Strait of Magellan, a ship commanded by Dirk Geeritz lost sight of the squadron after a storm and went south. When it dropped to 64° S. sh., the sailors saw a high shore.

Later, Tierra del Fuego was mistaken for an unknown continent. The Strait of Magellan thus separated South America and the South Land. This was already close to the truth... At the beginning of the 17th century. A small continent was discovered in the southeast of the Indian Ocean and named Australia. But Australia did not reach the South Pole. Sailors and scientists understood that there was some kind of continent to the south of America.

In the early Middle Ages it was inhabited by dragons and other all kinds of monsters. The French geographer A. Dalrymple claimed in 1770 that 50 million people lived there. Others believed that the continent was uninhabited, but there were forests and fertile lands. However, Lomonosov also believed that the unknown continent was covered with ice, because in the south sailors encountered huge icebergs that could only come off land.

In 1737, Philippe Boichet, a full member of the French Academy of Sciences, published his map of the Southern Lands. Three large islands are visible here, and there is an inland sea near the south pole. The Dutch were the first to cross the Antarctic Circle.

In 1772 and 1774 The famous traveler James Cook came close to the southern continent, but the ice did not let him in. He was forced to turn back, and later wrote a treatise in which he argued that if the Southern Land exists, it is located at the pole and is of little importance.

The southern land was no longer depicted on maps, but the search continued. On January 27, 1820, two Russian ships “Vostok” and “Mirny” crossed the southern polar circle. The next day, Captain Lazarev wrote in his journal that he saw ice of incredible height, which extended as far as vision could reach. And therefore, the day of January 28, 1820 went down in history as the date of the discovery of Antarctica. But the sailors received more complete evidence exactly a year later, when they returned to the southern latitudes, again crossed the Antarctic Circle and saw the mountainous coast of the southern continent. It became finally clear that this was land, not a glacier. Today, two Russian stations bear the names of ships - “Vostok” and “Mirny”.

Research in Antarctica continues continuously. It became clear that it could be divided into two parts. East Antarctica is a continental plateau, and West Antarctica is a chain of mountainous islands connected by ice. The mysterious continent, by international agreement, does not belong to any state. During the long winter, scientists working at the stations remain as if on another planet, having only satellite communications with the mainland.

And yet Antarctica still remains a mysterious land. After its discovery, a map of the famous Turkish admiral Piri Reis, made in 1513, was discovered in Istanbul. Its authenticity was in doubt, but still many researchers believe that it is really a document of the 16th century. Doubts are not surprising - the map accurately depicts the eastern coast of South America, the Amazon and the Falkland Islands, which are believed to have been discovered by the inhabitants of the Old World only in 1592. And most importantly, the map contains part of the Antarctic coast, and without ice, just like on the map of Buache. Piri Reis in his notes claimed that he relied on ancient maps from the time of Alexander the Great, and the Piri Reis Map is not the only one. The map, compiled in 1531 by Orontius Finney, shows the yet undiscovered Antarctica with mountain ranges and rivers.

Already in 1949, seismic exploration of the Antarctic coast was carried out, and its relief was studied. Researchers noted with great surprise that this relief corresponds to the image on maps of the 16th century. Modern science does not know how to explain this. It is believed that Antarctica has been covered by a two-kilometer layer of ice for the last 14 million years. However, this did not stop atlantologist Rand Flem-Ath from hypothesizing that Antarctica is Atlantis, comparing its outlines with Plato’s description of the island. In 1990, the remains of trees frozen in ice were discovered on this continent. Their age was determined to be 2-3 million years. Of course, these are also prehistoric times. How could Piri Reis and Orontius Finney know about Antarctica?

The remains of ships from the 17th-18th centuries have recently been found on the Antarctic islands. On this basis, Chile even lays claim to Antarctica: an 18th-century Spanish galleon from Chile was discovered in Antarctica, and its remains are now on display in the Valparaiso Museum. And a few years ago, Argentine archaeologists found knives, clothing and kitchen utensils in Antarctica that date back to the 17th century. Scientists believe that in the summer, hunters of sea animals lived on ice-free areas of the Antarctic coast. Therefore, it can be assumed that some ships could have drifted to the Antarctic shores a century, and perhaps centuries earlier. But the accuracy of ancient maps leaves us room for various assumptions.

People have already visited 50 southern latitudes of the Atlantic Ocean. The famous Amerigo Vespucci visited the eastern hemisphere at the beginning of the 16th century, and the northern and southern continents - America - were named after him. James Cook was engaged in a systematic search for “Terra Incognita” in the Australian latitudes. During his circumnavigation, he managed to cross the borders of the southern polar circle three times and encounter majestic icebergs. Speculation about the existence of an unknown land grew stronger, and in 1820 an inevitable event occurred - the unknown Southern continent was discovered.

Do you know when Antarctica was discovered and by whom?

The history of the study of the great continent began with a Russian expedition led by 2 geographers - F.F. Bellingshausen (1778 - 1852) and M.P. Lazarev (1788 - 1851). By time standards, a historically important discovery is considered recent. Almost 2 centuries have passed since January 1820, when the famous Russian navigators crossed the Arctic Circle on 2 sloops equipped at that time. Days and nights, the sailors dreaming of miracles stubbornly moved south. Storms and dampness penetrating everywhere interfered. Along the route we constantly came across small islands and an increasing number of flying birds. Finally, from the “Vostok” and “Mirny” we saw the sheer ice walls of the mighty continent.

Antarctica is considered an interesting continent of the Earth with an average height above the sea surface of 2000 meters. In the central part of the continent, individual altitudes reach 4000 meters. The continent is almost entirely located beyond the southern outline of the Arctic Circle. Any coast of the continent is northern. The center of the continent with the Adélie land is characterized by the South Pole. Cape Sifre with coordinates 63 13′ S. marked as the extreme point. The huge length of the coastal territory looks like icy inaccessible cliffs.

There were legends about the southern polar continent, and the unexplored land literally attracted with the prospects of future discoveries. Swindlers and legendary explorers alike believed in the presence of gold and diamond deposits in the bowels of the continent. It is interesting that when Antarctica was discovered, it was first named and not very correctly put on the maps. The real discovery came later. The name of the unexplored continent was invented by Aristotle. The ancient Greek scientist consciously insisted on the spherical shape of the Earth. He proposed, by analogy with the name of the north of the Earth “Arctic” (Bear Region), to call the opposite southern space of the planet “Antarctica” (Anti-Bear Region).

The 1959 International Convention established the regulatory rules for the use of Antarctica. A territory with the size of a huge continent is considered a world protected area for the century of progress. All types of production activities are prohibited. Nuclear-free status has been introduced on the territory of Antarctica - even nuclear icebreakers are prohibited from approaching the shores. Research work does not contradict the decisions of the convention.

The main research directions are presented:

Glaciology - the study of the state of ice. The southern glacial shell took thousands of years to form. To clarify the climatic conditions of historical periods of the Earth, layer-by-layer in-depth analyzes are carried out. Scientists observe changes in the “atmospheric roof”, the life of animals and explore the microcosm of plants and bacteria.

Relief studies of the continent. Research work by scientists from leading countries proves that the ice protection of the Southern Hemisphere formed earlier than the white space of the North Pole.

Studying ice-free areas. The spaces not filled by the glacier are used as a kind of oases. Vacant areas are convenient for placing research stations. The temperature in the oases is slightly higher than the average for the surrounding ice. The simplest lichens with mosses and wingless flies are quite comfortable in this environment. Curious seals coexist with skua gulls and varieties of crustaceans.

Geological research. The territory of Antarctica is considered by far-sighted scientists as a strategic “reserve” for humanity. The rapid depletion of the world's mineral deposits on other continents will invariably lead to developments on this continent. Assumptions about gold reserves and the concentration of valuable chemical elements are confirmed by daily research.

Observations of the “living” ozone layer. Observations with precise measurements of a vast area of ​​the atmosphere allow scientists to clearly judge the harm of human activity and the state of the planet's ecosystem.

Studying the animal world of the “Anti-Bear Region”. In-depth studies of natural communities with biologists periodically discover unknown microorganisms with bacteria.

Research of subglacial river beds and mineralized reservoirs. High pressure with a lack of oxygen creates problems for researchers when analyzing samples from deep lakes.

Studying the influence of extreme natural conditions on the vital functions of the human body. Daily studies and conclusions of observing doctors lead to specific conclusions with patterns. Measurements of biological parameters help in space research.

The era when Antarctica was discovered did not allow us to fully appreciate the value of the discovery of the Southern continent. And today, Antarctica is considered a continent with a lot of mysteries. The next human generation will have a lot of work and major discoveries ahead.

Plan:

Introduction

• 1 History
• 2 Population
• 3 Interesting facts
Notes

Introduction

The Unknown Southern Land is marked in pink on the map. Maris Pacifici Abraham Ortelius (1589).

Unknown Southern Land(lat. Terra Australis Incognita) - the land around the South Pole, depicted on most maps from ancient times to the second half of the 18th century. The outlines of the continent were depicted arbitrarily, often depicting mountains, forests and rivers. Name options: Unknown Southern Land, Mysterious Southern Land, sometimes simply Southern Land. In theory, South Earth corresponds to Antarctica, although no data about it existed at that time.

1. History

Ptolemy's map (2nd century)

Eratosthenes Map

Map of Al-Idrisi (12th century)

The unknown southern land was depicted on the famous map of Eratosthenes as a small tip of Africa.

On the equally famous map of Ptolemy, it occupies the entire south, making the Indian Ocean a closed lake.

A thousand years later, in The Book of Roger, Al-Idrisi depicted the South Land as the huge eastern tip of Africa in the Indian Ocean, nevertheless leaving a water surface for the "end of the earth."

As geographical discoveries progressed, the Unknown Southern Land became smaller and smaller, moving south.

Its northern capes (or parts of its territory) were Tierra del Fuego (in this case, the Strait of Magellan was considered the border between South America and Terra Australis), Estados Island, Bouvet Island, Australia and New Zealand.

In 1770, the little-known English navigator A. Dalrymple wrote a work in which he provided evidence that the population of the Southern Continent exceeded 50 million people. This was one of the last theories about Southland.

In 1772, James Cook crossed the Antarctic Circle, coming very close to Antarctica. However, difficult conditions forced him to turn back. Upon his return, he stated that if the Southern Continent exists, it is only near the pole, and therefore is of no value.

After this, the Southern Continent was no longer depicted at all. Even after the discovery of the Antarctic Peninsula, which is truly the northern part of Southland, it was depicted as an island (Palmer Land, Graham Land).

Even 50 years after the discovery of Antarctica, Jules Verne wrote the novel “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea”, where the heroes reach the South Pole in a submarine.

2. Population

In the Middle Ages, the main task for reaching the Southern Land was to spread Christianity among the local residents.

In the Early Middle Ages, it was believed that “bald people”, “people with dog heads”, giants, dragons and other monsters lived on the territory (or part of the territory) of the Southern Land. Others argued that there were no people or monsters there at all, but there were forests and fertile lands. Lokak, the country of Parrots, Anian, the wonderful island - these are some of the names of the Unknown Southern Land.

Later, nothing was clearly reported about the inhabitants (Dalrymple is an exception), and the discovery was sought only to expand the lands of one or another power.

3. Interesting facts

Fragment of the Piri Reis map

• At the beginning of the 20th century (according to other sources, in the 19th century), a map was found from the archives of the 16th century Turkish admiral Muhidzin Piri Reis, which allegedly very accurately depicts Antarctica without an ice sheet. The records of Piri Reis indicate that the map was allegedly compiled on the basis of materials from the era of Alexander the Great.
• In the 20th century, the remains of galleons of the 16th-17th centuries were found several times on the coast of the Antarctic islands. Now it is no longer possible to accurately determine whether they swam there on their own or whether their remains were carried away by ocean currents. Chile even claims Antarctica on this basis, since an 18th-century Spanish galleon that left a Chilean port was in Antarctica. A shipwreck found in Antarctica is kept in one of the Valparaiso museums. In addition to shipwrecks, knives, clothing and kitchen utensils dating back to the 17th century were also found.

Notes

1. Dubrovin L. I. From the ideas of the ancients to the International Geophysical Year. The southern continent and its search - www.ivki.ru/kapustin/journal/dubrovin.htm.
2. What have we gotten to the bottom of (Interview with Vladimir Kotlyakov) - www.ogoniok.com/archive/2004/4861/34-14-15/ // Ogonyok. - August 23, 2004. - No. 34 (4861). - pp. 14-15.
3. Vladimir Khozikov We are studying Antarctica. What will we get from this? (Interview with Valery Lukin) - www.rg.ru/anons/arc_1999/0831/3.htm // Russian newspaper. - August 31, 1999.
4. Antarctica was discovered back in the 17th century - www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=40934. Vesti.ru (January 20, 2004).

We invite you to look at photographs united by one theme - “the unknown southern land” of Australia. A continent inhabited by unique animals and beautiful people. Continued with photographs of Australian animals and amazing views of Australian nature.

(Total 30 photos)

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1. The Sacred Monolith of Uluru, or Ayers Rock, is located in Central Australia's Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, which is a World Heritage Site. (Torsten Blackwood/AFP - Getty Images)

2. Be careful when crossing the road in Western Australia. Camels, wombats and kangaroos can cross it. (Nick Rains/Tourism Australia)

3. A kangaroo stands near a pond near which sheep have gathered, near the White Cliffs in New South Wales. (William West/AFP)

4. Tourists look at the magnificent cathedral created by termites in Litchfield National Park, near Darwin in Australia. These are the largest termite structures in the world, reminiscent of medieval castles. (Greg Wood/AFP - Getty Images)

5. A koala sleeps on a branch at Sydney Zoo, which contains flora and fauna that can only be found on the continent. Koalas eat only rough eucalyptus leaves, which they can digest because they have the longest stomach for a mammal of their size. (Greg Wood/AFP - Getty Images)

6. Located near Ellis Springs in Australia's Northern Territory, the eastern MacDonnell Mountains are part of the remnants of mountains that were once higher than the Himalayas. The eastern MacDonnell Mountains are more diverse and less populated than the western MacDonnell Mountains.

7. Tourists stand at the Illawarra Lookout, which overlooks the rainforest and coastline in the center of the Illawarra region, south of Sydney. Here the slopes of mountains and hills meet the sea. (Greg Wood/AFP - Getty Images)

8. Pinnacles, ancient limestone formations, rise from the sand in Nambung National Park. There are thousands of these formations in this Western Australian region, which are especially loved to be photographed at sunset and sunrise. (Tourism Australia)

9. Three Sisters jut out from the Blue Mountains, near Katoomba, New South Wales. The appearance of the mountain changes as the sun travels across the sky. According to Aboriginal legend, there were three sisters in the Katoomba tribe who fell in love with three brothers from the Nepean tribe, but according to the laws of the tribes they were not allowed to marry. The brothers were not satisfied with this law, and they took the sisters by force, which caused a war. The shaman turned the sisters into rocks to protect them from danger, but he was killed before he could break the spell. And that is why the sisters still remain in the guise of rocks. (Lincoln Fowler/Tourism Australia)

10. The large leaves of the Cannaceae family show off their unusual hues at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney. The Botanic Garden was founded by Governor Macquarie in 1816 and is the oldest scientific institute in Australia. It plays a big role in the acclimatization of plants from other regions. (Greg Wood/AFP - Getty Images)

11. Cattle drives head to camp at Oodnadatta during the Great Australian Cattle Drive on May 7, 2009. The Great Australian Cattle Drive event runs from 30 July to 29 August. All visitors are invited to experience the atmosphere of a real Australian adventure. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

12. Many residents of the mining town of Coober Pedy, where opal is mined, live underground. The underground Serbian Orthodox Church is one of the main sites of the city. Here you will see cave paintings on the walls, rooms with high ceilings and stained glass windows. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

13. A small indigenous Australian dancer performs during the Eperenje Federation Festival on September 9, 2001 in Ellis Springs. The Eperenje Festival features thousands of dancers, performers, singers, musicians and spectators who gather at Blazerskate Park, on the traditional land of the Arrernte tribe. It is one of the largest cultural gatherings of indigenous and non-indigenous people on the continent since colonization. (Matt Turner/Getty Images)

14. Borradale Mountain in the Northern Territory of Australia was inhabited by Aboriginal tribes for 50,000 years, so the best examples of Australian indigenous art can be seen on the walls of the mountain. The drawings vary in date and subject matter. This mountain and the surrounding Arnhem Land area attract tourists from all over the world who want to learn more about true Australian history. (James Fisher/Tourism Australia)

15. The wetlands of the Yellow Waters region in Kakadu National Park are a real temple of wildlife. The park's flora is one of the richest in northern Australia, with more than 2,000 plant species growing here. The park is also considered one of the most weed-free parks in the world. (Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

16. Rex the crocodile swims in his enclosure at Sydney Zoo. Rex was captured in the Northern Territory and moved to the zoo in December last year. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

17. Cows walk on Norfolk Island, where motorcyclists wave to all passing drivers. (Lawrence Bartlett/AFP - Getty Images)

18. The Australian War Monument in Canberra is a combination temple, museum and archive that commemorates Australians who died in the war. (Geoff Lung/Tourism Australia)

19. A large statue of the famous Australian outlaw Ned Kelly in Glenrone, his final place of residence, about 177 km north-east of Melbourne. The huge models of everything from koalas to pineapples were previously unnoticed, but are now attracting more and more tourists. (William West/AFP - Getty Images)

20. The Ghan Railway runs from Adelaide in the south to Darwin in the north. From the carriage window you can see the magnificent Australian landscapes in the Red Center of the country. (Tourism Australia)

21. Vineyards in the Margaret River region in the south-west corner of Western Australia. The vineyards are located between two coastal capes – Naturaliste and Lijuvin. (Greg Wood/AFP - Getty Images)

22. A climber climbs a basalt rock in Tasmania known as the Totem Pole. Although he usually has to climb buildings and structures, since his main activity is industrial mountaineering. (Nick Hancock/Tourism Australia)

23. Vacationers sunbathe on the Gold Coast beach in Queensland. The Gold Coast is a popular tourist destination with some of the world's best beaches and nightlife. When it's winter in Europe, it's summer in Australia, as well as throughout the southern hemisphere, so tourists flock here, taking advantage of the seasonal 26. These large, porous corals on the Great Barrier Reef are hundreds of years old. Corals are like trees: every year new ones are deposited in their skeletons, which carry traces of all the environmental changes in the environment over time. (Jurgen Freund / Freund Factory)

27. Fish of all colors and shades on the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast of Australia. In January 2009, Australia announced a crackdown on pollution in the Great Barrier Reef as the site, which has become a destination, is subject to pollution from toxic chemicals and the effects of climate change. (AFP - Getty Images)

28. Crimson clouds look great against the backdrop of a green field during a match between the Australia and England cricket teams at Sydney Stadium. (Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

29. The Sydney Harbor Bridge is an iconic landmark in Australia's most populous state, New South Wales. The state's population exceeds 7 million people. (Greg Wood/AFP - Getty Images)

30. Famous - one of the most recognizable places in Australia. Situated on Bennelong Point, the building hosts a variety of performances and has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (Greg Wood/AFP - Getty Images)