Contribution of Polish geologists to geology in Siberia and the Far East

Abstract

Abstract Systematic studies of Siberia and the Far East started at the beginning of the twentieth century and Poles played an important part in these studies. These Poles included those who had been deported after the overthrow of insurrections, as well as voyagers, explorers and industrialists – all of whom were attracted to this region by their nature and cupidity. There were many geologists among these people, with interests ranging from ethnography to zoology and botany. They also carried out meteorological and topographical measurements. This paper discusses some of the well-known explorers, including P. Czekanowski, J. Czerski, K. Bohdanowicz and J. Morozewicz, and also less famous explorers, such as A. Giedrojć, L. Barszczewski, B. Grąbczewski, L. Jaczewski, K. Grochowski and S. Doktorowicz-Hrebnicki. All of these explorers were also brilliant researchers and distinguished themselves in the exploration of the territories east of the Ural Mountains. After Poland regained its independence, some of them also contributed to the development of the geological sciences in Poland.