Description of the attraction
The monument to Peter Kuzmich Pakhtusov (1800-1835), who was born in Kronstadt, stands near the building that once housed the Navigation School. The future great navigator was trained here in 1816-1820.
After completing his studies at the school, non-commissioned officer Pakhtusov was sent to Arkhangelsk to serve in the expedition. There he explored the shores and islands of the Barents Sea, the mouth of the Pechora River. In the fall of 1829, Pakhtusov developed a plan for an expedition to Novaya Zemlya in order to explore its shores. The project interested P. I. Klokov, the caretaker of the ship forests of the Arkhangelsk province, and V. Brandt, a large merchant. In Arkhangelsk, with their money, two ships were built: the schooner "Yenisei" and the karbas "Novaya Zemlya".
The expedition consisted of two detachments: the team of P. K. Pakhtusova set off on the Novaya Zemlya karbass (to study the eastern coast of Novaya Zemlya) and the team of Lieutenant V. A. Krotova - on the Yenisei schooner (to pass through the Matochkin Shar into the Kara Sea to the mouth of the Yenisei River).
Due to the difficult weather conditions, Pakhtusov's detachment stayed for the winter in the area of the Kamenka Bay in the south of the archipelago. During a grueling 297-day wintering, 2 team members died from scurvy. In the spring, the research was continued. At the end of August 1833, the expedition reached the Matochkin Shar Strait. From here she returned to the mainland due to the illness of people (one more team member died on the way back), and the poor state of the karbas. The detachment of Lieutenant Krotov went missing without reaching Matochkin Shara.
At the beginning of 1834, Pakhtusov arrived in St. Petersburg with a report. They were presented with detailed maps, a large amount of data tabulated, descriptions, measurements of pressure, temperatures, wind directions, depths, etc. It is noteworthy that Pakhtusov was the first to measure pressure and temperature on Novaya Zemlya and put on the map the eastern coast of the southern island of Novaya Zemlya. Pakhtusov's research made an impression in the Hydrographic Department, and it was decided to continue the study of Novaya Zemlya.
The second expedition of Pakhtusov set off on the schooner "Krotov" and the karbas "Kazakov" (the second detachment was under the leadership of A. K. Tsivolka, warrant officer of the corps of naval navigators). The ships were built with funds from the Hydrographic Department. In early August 1834, they set sail from Arkhangelsk. During the wintering, 2 team members died.
In July 1835, not far from Berkha Island, the vessel "Kazakov" was crushed by ice. We managed to save some provisions and two boats. Pakhtusov caught a very bad cold. Help was provided by the Kemsky industrialists who catch walruses nearby. On their boat, the team continued to explore the east coast. It was not possible to get to Cape Desire and bypass Novaya Zemlya from the north - ice prevented. The expedition returned to Matochkin Shar, and then to Arkhangelsk in October 1835.
The second expedition made a description of the southern coast of the Matochkin Shar Strait, the western coast to the Admiralty Cape and the eastern coast of the island to Dalny Island.
Pyotr Kuzmich Pakhtusov died on November 19, 1835, a month after returning from the voyage.
In 1875, the navigators asked to erect a monument to P. K. Pakhtusov, and their desire was supported. On March 14, 1877, a fundraiser began, lasting 9 years. The sculptor of the monument was N. I. Laveretsky. On the pedestal is a bronze statue of 2.49 meters high. Pakhtusov - in a uniform and an overcoat, pulled down from one shoulder. In his right hand is a map of Novaya Zemlya, unfolded to Cape Dolgiy (the limit of his work). The pedestal with a height of 3.29 meters was made by A. A. Barinov.
On October 19, 1886, a solemn ceremony of opening the monument was held, which was attended by many honored guests, the son and two daughters of Peter Kuzmich. A parade of the troops of the Kronstadt garrison was organized in front of the figure of the courageous navigator and explorer.
