Journey

  

Modern map of Russia. Source: worldatlas.com

Modern map of Russia. Source: worldatlas.com

       The expedition arrived in Moscow on July 4th, 1768, where they were forced to stop for vehicle repairs resulting from unpaved and destructive roads. In the meantime, Pallas reported on the residual marine materials surrounding the town and the Moskwa River. The main marine life found consisted of sponges that the women of the area used to apply cosmetics. At this time, people in Moscow were reportedly attempting to grow rhubarb for their agricultural needs (St. John 69). The expedition then departed and passed through Vlodimir, where the team reported on the communities’ main source of profit and the unique addition to their diet which came from the local cherry orchards. The team reported on the fur trade of the town of Kasinof and the Islamic religion of the province. Pallas also reported on water quality as a part of his instructions to send back any observations he made. Pallas determined that the quality of the water in the Oka River was poor by noting the health issues of the people in the nearby village who used the river as their main water source (St. John 70). The expedition then reached the Volga River on September 22nd, 1768. The area surrounding the river was home to several sulfurous springs. These springs reportedly never froze, even in winter, and produced sulfurous vapor.

            The expedition paused in the town of Simbirsk near Samara to spend the harsh winter. This was the first place on the expedition that had skeletal remains of mastodons and mammoths. In May of 1769, the team began their journey southward following the Volga River. Here, Pallas reported that the banks of the river were mostly chalk and there was an absence of vegetation due to the hot temperatures that had been reported that year. Upon approaching some hills along the Volga River, Pallas noted the presence of several zoological attributes of the area such as tarantula holes and marmot burrows. Soon after, the expedition arrived in Samara, which they made their headquarters for Peter Simon Pallas. From this point, Pallas reported on several tombs they had uncovered in the area and the cultures of the surrounding communities, as well as the zoology. Specifically, he reported that the area was home to massive marsh flies (St. John 72).


URAL MOUNTAINS

Map of the Ural Mountains. Source: britannica.com

Map of the Ural Mountains. Source: britannica.com

After spending a particularly harsh winter at Oufa near the Belaia River, the team began their journey to the Ural Mountains on May 16, 1771. Upon reaching the Ural Mountains, which run north to south in the middle-western part of Russia, during the Siberian Expedition, Pallas made some valuable observations that remain accurate to this day. His original purpose for visiting the Ural Mountains was report on the metallurgy and mineralogy of the region. Mining and metal industries had grown in the southern Urals and Pallas was supposed to report back on the possible economic significance of the area. Upon further analysis of this range, he determined that the highest mountain were composed mostly of igneous rocks such as granite, some schists, and serpentine. These were accompanied by lesser amounts of other material. He found that these materials contained bedding that had been shifted drastically into almost vertical positions. He called the composition of the taller mountains in the Ural range a “Primitive Band,” by which he meant ancient or before modern life. Pallas arrived at this conclusion by observing the lack of fossiliferous or organic material. Pallas identified the subsequent layer as the “Calcareous Band” because of its high limestone content. Pallas associated this band with what are called the “Secondary Mountains of Pallas” within the Ural Mountain range. He observed the composition of the limestone as the bands became horizontal coinciding with the sloping of the mountain. He noticed that the limestone contained more fossilized shells and corals as the band leveled and became closer to the mountain’s base. This was early proof of former marine inhabitants on what was formerly ocean but is now land. Presently, this theory, of ancient oceans covering much of the land that is now continental, is widely accepted. There are now several instances in the rock record showing former marine environments existing on what is now dry land. The final series identified by Pallas was named the Tertiary Mountains. These hills geographically preceding the start of the mountain range consists of some sandstones and other sedimentary rocks. Pallas believed the hills were formed fairly recently compared to the age of the mountains (Geike, 180). This Tertiary, or third, group is now defined as being part of the Permian system. Overall, Pallas determined that the relative ages of rocks comprising the mountain range showed that the larger mountains were the oldest, and the smaller hills or mountains were younger and likely had been submerged under water for a period of time in their geologic history.

 


        The expedition travelled farther eastward and reached Lake Baikal. Upon crossing the lake, Pallas briefly travelled into Chinese territory to observe a trading post and the commerce that was occurring between Russia and China (Parker 93). They travelled through the nearby mountains of Transbaikalia and, from this point, they began their journey home by travelling along the Caspian Sea and Volga River (Natural History Museum).