Przhevalsky Museum. Wharf – Przhevalsk is a place of historical importance in the immediate vicinity of the town of Karakol. Here is the grave of the world-famous scientist, traveller and explorer Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky, as well as a museum dedicated to his explorations in Central Asia.
Nikolai Mikhailovich Przhevalsky (1839-1888) was a Russian traveller who explored Asia. He was one of the first Europeans to visit remote areas of Mongolia, China and Tibet. He discovered the sources of the Huang He and Yangtze rivers, crossed the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts, described the now defunct Lake Lobnor and the Tarim River, and discovered the Przewalski’s horse, an unknown breed of horse that now bears his name. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of his travels in the world of science: Przhevalsky’s works have been translated into many foreign languages, and his travel notes are still published today.
Contrary to popular belief, the location of Przhevalsky’s grave in Kyrgyzstan has nothing to do with his research. As mentioned earlier, Przhevalsky’s main interest was remote Tibet and its former capital Lhasa.
