Exploration of the eastern part of Gorny Altai (the Biya and Teletskoe Lake) by G.P. von Helmersen in 1834

The article is devoted to the geological expedition of the famousRussian scientist and traveller G.P. Helmersen in the eastern part of Gorny Altai in 1834. The aim of the journey was to study the geologicalstructure of Teletskoe Lake and the adjacent territories. One of Helmersens research tasks was to ascertain the gold content ofTeletskoe Lake and its inflows. The article underlines that the expedition was initiated by the Ministry of Finance of Russia, which wasinterested in the scientific research of the district and discovery of precious metals supplies in its territory. The work gives a detaileddescription of the journey route, which included all the Biya water area, Teletskoe Lake and the low part of the Chulyshman River,where Helmersen turned back. The article underlines the geological significance of Helmersens journey to Eastern Altai, because hewas the first scientist to visit the Altai Mountains, Teletskoe Lake and the Biya River and discovered this terra incognitа for the scientificworld. Helmersen studied the composition of rocks, compiled a detailed description of the mountains surrounding the lake, andstudied the main inflow feeding the lake - the Chulyshman River and its role in filling the lake. The results of Helmersens researchwere the first authentic scientific picture of the geological structure of the Biya River and Teletskoe Lake basins and the first geologicalmap of the district, which was used by other researchers who visited Gorny Altai and cabinet geologists who investigated the lakesidesand inflows of the lake. Helmersen gave a general geology and mineralogy description of the Teletskoe Lake district and its inflows anddetailed mineralogy component description of rocks of the surrounding mountain ridges. Helmersens geological research held in 1834prepared the discovery of gold in Gorny Altai in the second part of the 19th century. The article reveals the significance of Helmersenswork as important historical sources in history and culture of the Russian population of Piedmont Altai and the Altaians populating thebasin of the upper Biya and Teletskoe Lake in the first third of the 19th century. The scientists information about attempts to developeconomically the nature sources by the West-Siberian administration is of great interest. Long before V.I. Verbitsky, G.P. Helmersenhad written down some Altaian legends about the sacral places of the Teletsky district. Thus, G.P. Helmersen played a great role in investigationof natural resources of Eastern Altai. The expedition of 1834 started the scientific research of this part of Altai. Helmersensworks promoted the mining development of this part of Altai.

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