Extracts From the History of Investigations of Crimean nature
Investigations of Crimean nature began at IX – VIII-th centuries B.C. during the Great Greek colonization of countries of the Northern region of the Black sea.
Information about ancient Tavrika was accumulated slowly,this process lasted more than 2000 years, geographical data were fragmentary and not always authentic. Now they are important as facts, allowing to understand changes in the nature of the peninsula during that period of time; to understand, how contours of Crimea appeared on the map, how "white spots" were gradually disappeared.
The first references to the antique Tavrika we could find in several works of the ancient scientists: historians and geographers like: Herodotus, Strabone and Ptolemy. At that time Crimea maintained close economic and cultural relations with antique countries. Strabone, for example, in his work "About geography" (18 year A.D.) presented a drawing of quite precise geographical map where we could find ancient countries of the Northern region of the Black sea and Small Scythia (Crimea); described southern coast of peninsula; named it Tavrichesky; mentioned of the mountain area; told about the fertile earth and high crops on the Kerch peninsula ("plowmen collected thirty grains from the one sown").
During the Middle Ages and later, geographical data about the Crimean peninsula were collected, mainly, by the Arabian geographers; we could find information also in the records and descriptions made by commercials, ambassadors and travelers from the different countries of Europe and Asia. An inscription on the well-known Tmoutarakane stone (an old Russian monument) testifies that the prince Gleb in 1068, for the first time in the history of Crimea, measured the sea across the strait on the ice from Tmoutarakane (Tamansky coast of the Caucasus) to Korchev (now Kerch) and found that there were 14000 fathoms.
Afanassy Nikitin – Russian investigator, on his back way from India, visited Crimea in 1474, where he traveled by sea along the Crimean coast (from Balaklava to Kafa) and by land (from Kafa to the north through Perekop). Presumably in Crimea he wrote (or finished) his well-known book "Travel across three seas".
The composition of the Turkish traveler of the XVII –th century Evliya Cheleby "The Book of Travels" (1641-1667) where the author named different data about the nature of the peninsula (places, fertility of soils, plants) represents a big interest for scientists nowadays.
An epoch of regular scientific investigations of the nature began at the end of the XVIII-th century, when Crimea was included into Russia in 1783. Scientists V.F. Zuev, K.I. Gablits and P.S. Pallas became scientific pioneers of Crimea. Academician V.F. Zuev in 1782-1783 described geography of Crimea in his "Extracts from the Notes of Voyages… concerning the Crimean peninsula". K.I. Gablits published his first monograph about the nature of Crimea in 1785: "Physical description of Taurichesky area, its position and three empires of nature". And in ten years, in 1795, Petersburg academician P.S. Pallas, finishing his travel along the south of Russia, had published "The short physical and topographical description of the Taurichesky area", where he named Crimea – a remarkable country from the point of view of physical geography. Academician Pallas lived and worked in Crimea during more than 15 years, his house was situated in the oldest park "Salghirka" in Simferopol.
Scientists continue to investigate Crimea in XIX-th century. Academician N.I. Andrusov, scientists: I.V. Mushketov, N.A. Sokolov, K.K. Foht, and A. A. Borisjak studied geological structure and relief of the peninsular; they made the first geological maps. V.V. Dokuchaev investigated the soil: described chernozem (black earth) of Simferopol type and made the first physico-geographical maps, with the division into districts and maps of soil of the peninsula. N.A. Golovkinsky studied hydro-geological conditions of Crimea: water layers and underground water of various areas of Crimea. Academician V.I. Vernadsky studied mud hills of Kerch peninsula, their origin and mineralogy at the end of the century. Academician H.H. Steven - a well known botanist, founder of the Nikitsky botanical garden (1812) worked in Crimea for more than a half of a century. In 1856-1857 he published his main work, based on the results of long experience and researches "List of wild plants of the Crimean peninsular". Vegetation was studied then by V.N. Agueenko, V.I. Taliev, fauna – by K.F. Kessler, A.M. Nikolsky, S.I. Ognev and other scientists.
In XX-th century the researches of the nature of Crimea were carried out mainly by teams of the various central and local scientific organizations under the direction of famous academicians such as: N.S. Kurnakov, A.E. Fersman, V.V. Shulejkin, D.I. Shcherbakov, Y.M. Shokalsky, V.A. Obruchev, E.F.Shnukov, professors S.A. Kovalevsky, Y.D. Kozina and others.
Studies of the lithogenic bases of landscapes were carried out by: M.V. Muratov, A.A. Klukin, A.A. Kriber, N.A. Gvozdetsky, V.N. Dubljansky, B.A. Vahrushev, N.I. Lysenko, I.G. Gubanov, A.G. Kuznetsov and others. The climate was investigated by A.A. Borisov, I.I. Babkov, A.V. Penugalov, I.P. Ved, V.I. Vazhov, B.B. Pechurin and others. Water resources were studied by scientists: S.V. Albov, D.I. Kochergin, A.N. Oliferov, R.A. Filenko, Y.I. Shutov and others. The soil and its features were studied by N.N. Dzens-Litovskaja, V.P. Gusev, N.N. Klepinin, P.G. Gusev, M.A. Kochkin, I.Y. Polovitsky and others. Flora and vegetation of the peninsula were studied very carefully by such biologists as: E.V. Vulf, С.С. Stankov, P.M. Hristuk, N.I. Rubtsov, V.N. Golubev, P.P. Posokhov, Аn. V. Ena, M.S. Shalyt, V.G. Mishnev, V.V. Korgenevsky, S.F. Kotov and others. Animal population was studied by: I.I. Puzanov, S.L. Delamure, N.N. Shcherbak, M.V. Yurahno, A.N. Sungurov, Y.V. Kostin, A.I. Dulitsky and others. Complex, landscape researches were carried out; detailed landscape maps were made, physico-geographical division of the peninsular into districts was marked on the map, forms and methods of rational wildlife management were developed, natural reservations appeared. These researches were carried out by: B.F. Dobrynin, L.A. Bagrova, G.E. Grishankov, V.G. Ena, P.D. Podgorodetsky, V.A. Bokov, Al.V. Еnа, P.G. Shishchenko, A.M. Marinich, N.N. Pavlova, E.A. Pozachenuk and other scientists.
One of the researchers of the peninsula - academician P.P. Tolochko emphasizes the special role played by Crimea in the scientific system and scientific - educational institutions of our country. Its original research infrastructure was formed 200 years ago, and now the scientific - mental potential of this region remains quite high. Today - more than 400 doctors and around 2000 candidates of science work in Crimea, about 12 thousand of highly skilled experts are involved in its research and educational sphere. There are many famous and worldly known research and scientific - educational institutions in Crimea, the long-term creative activity of scientists are highly esteemed by the scientific community all over the world. First of all, it would be necessary to name the oldest Institutions such as: Nikitsky State Botanical Garden; National Scientific Centre (was founded in 1812); Institute “Magarach” (1828); Institute of the Biology of the Southern Seas (1871); Institute of Physical Methods of Treatment and Medical Climatology (1914); the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory (1908), Karadagsky Scientific Station (1914); Institute of the Sea Hydrophysics (1929); Southern Scientific Research Institute of Fishery and Oceanography (1922); Department of Seismology of the Institute of Geophysics of the Academy of Science of Ukraine (1927); Tavrichesky National University named by V.I. Vernadsky (1918); the Crimean State Medical University (1930); the Crimean State Agrarian University (1922) and many others. The Crimean centre of science of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine (the chairman - Professor N.V. Bagrov) was created and work successfully and the Crimean academy of sciences (the president - Professor V.F. Rusiaev) as well.
