Путешествие Александра фон Гумбольдта по России

Alexander von Humboldt went on an expedition through Russia and Siberia in 1829, which led him to the Chinese border. This second great journey of the German naturalist was in many respects complementary to his American expedition of 1799–1804. In Russia, Humboldt travelled and researched under political pressure. On the one hand he reported to the Russian government on his inspections in the mining industry and on the other hand he wrote letters to his brother about slavery and surveillance. Humboldt's work on Central Asia (1843) shows subtle methods of indirect criticism. Here he describes how inefficient energy production in a state-owned and serf-driven economy destroys the environment and causes man-made climate change.