Danish explorer who discovered on behalf of Russia and the country’s first technological university are the main heroes of tonight’s Historama.
Legendary explorer sails off to great discoveries
On this day in 1728, Vitus Bering sailed out from Kamchatka peninsula (Russia’s Far East) to explore previously uncharted lands.
Read more about Virus Bering on Russiapedia
Vitus Bering was a Danish navigator in the service of the Russian Navy.
Today, quite a few geographical sites bear his name, including the Bering Strait, the Bering Sea, Bering Island, Bering Glacier and the Bering Land Bridge.
He is also known for being the first European to discover Alaska.
First technical university in Russia
Today in 1830, Bauman Moscow State Technical University was founded.
It was the first technical university in Russia and it is still one of the largest in the country.
Situated on the Yauza riverbank, opposite Lefortovo Park, it was established by a decree of Tsar Nicholas I.
Back in the day, it was called the Imperial Vocational School, but the USSR renamed it after the Bolshevik revolutionary Nikolay Bauman.
Read more on this day in Russian history