This publication from the “Great Travels” series introduces the domestic reader to the famous Russian traveler and navigator Otto Evstafievich Kotzebue (1788-1846). Two expeditions around the world, which took place under his leadership, erased many “blank spots” from the map of the Earth: several archipelagos, hundreds of large and small islands were discovered, thousands of the most valuable scientific measurements were made, sketches of the inhabitants of those distant lands where the Russian expedition penetrated were made, a huge collection of “overseas” curiosities. Kotzebue left to his descendants a detailed description of the discoveries, difficulties, dangers and adventures that befell the crews of his ships during the years of voyages around the world......When sooner or later teleportation becomes available to people, the joy of travel will be lost finally. However, now we travel only for the sake of contemplation, and not for the sake of discovery. Comfort and safety have emasculated the very essence of the desire for the unknown, and extreme situations - if they exist - are created by additional efforts... Or maybe it was two hundred years ago! Otto von Kotzebue alone discovered 399 islands. And only in the Pacific Ocean. But in his voyages around the world there were also the Atlantic and Indian oceans, bays, straits and much, much more... Kotzebue was lucky in life. And when his father, the famous playwright August Kotzebue, at the age of eight, assigned his son to the St. Petersburg Cadet Corps. And when the widowed Kotzebue Sr. chose the sister of Ivan Fedorovich Kruzenshtern himself as his wife. And when Otto, already captain of the ship "Rurik", in his second voyage around the world, managed to grabbed the rope and miraculously escaped from a wave that was about to wash him overboard. Even though the young man never became an army officer, it was in the cadet corps that he realized that his calling was the sea. He may have lost his mother early, but his stepmother turned out to be the sister of the great navigator, who took care of the young man and took him, at the age of fifteen, on a circumnavigation of the world on the sloop “Nadezhda” - the first in Russia. However, luck is nothing more than a chance. Otto was a first-class sailor who thoroughly studied maritime affairs. And this business at all times implied risk - and a considerable one, especially when it came to circumnavigation of the world, and without luck the sailor would have had a very hard time. Kotzebue’s courage is not thoughtless daring. Otto Evstafievich knew how to combine it with precise calculations and careful preparation. He was willing to take risks - and if it is necessary, then with your own life. However, he understood perfectly well: the expedition is not his personal business; he bears responsibility for the fate of the ship entrusted to him and the lives of the crew members. And Otto Kotzebue also had a scientific mindset: for example, he was the first to guess that in ancient times the continents of Eurasia and America were connected by a bridge, and the talent of a writer. And therefore his books, like good wine, become even better over time, acquiring a new, special taste... The electronic publication of O. E. Kotzebue’s book includes the full text of the paper book and some of the illustrative material. But for true connoisseurs of exclusive publications, we offer a classic gift book with an exceptional selection of illustrations: most of what is published was made by eyewitnesses and participants in O.E.’s expeditions. Kotzebue has until now been inaccessible to the modern Russian reader. The illustrations and text are accompanied by many comments and explanations; the book has excellent printing, white offset paper. This edition, like all the books in the “Great Travels” series, will adorn any, even the most sophisticated library, and will be a wonderful gift for both young readers and discerning bibliophiles.