Sasha
20 Dec 2008
History / Famous Russian Poles [243]
Nikolai Mikhaylovich Przhevalsky (IPA: [prʐɛ'valʲskʲi]), also spelled Przewalski and Prjevalsky (Russian: Никола́й Миха́йлович Пржева́льский; April 12 [O.S. 31 March] 1839-November 1 [O.S. 20 October] 1888 ), was a Russian geographer and explorer of Central and Eastern Asia. Although he never reached his final goal, Lhasa in Tibet, he traveled through regions unknown to the west, such as northern Tibet, modern Qinghai and Dzungaria. He significantly contributed to European knowledge on Central Asia and was the first known European to describe the only extant species of wild horse.
Something I found particularly interesting:
and one more thing...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolai_Przhevalsky - in English
pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niko%C5%82aj_Przewalski - in Polish
Nikolai Mikhaylovich Przhevalsky (IPA: [prʐɛ'valʲskʲi]), also spelled Przewalski and Prjevalsky (Russian: Никола́й Миха́йлович Пржева́льский; April 12 [O.S. 31 March] 1839-November 1 [O.S. 20 October] 1888 ), was a Russian geographer and explorer of Central and Eastern Asia. Although he never reached his final goal, Lhasa in Tibet, he traveled through regions unknown to the west, such as northern Tibet, modern Qinghai and Dzungaria. He significantly contributed to European knowledge on Central Asia and was the first known European to describe the only extant species of wild horse.
Something I found particularly interesting:
According to David Schimmelpenninck Van Der Oye's assessment, Przhevalsky's books on Central Asia feature his disdain for the Oriental - particularly, the Chinese - civilization. Przhevalsky supposedly portrayed the Chinese as cowardly and lazy, and in all respects inferior to the "European civilization".
and one more thing...
There is an urban legend that Joseph Stalin was an illegitimate son of Nikolai Przhevalski [8] [9]. The legend is supported by the similar appearance of both men, probably exaggerated by the propaganda efforts to make canonical images of Stalin more Slavic-like
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolai_Przhevalsky - in English
pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niko%C5%82aj_Przewalski - in Polish