Vitus Bering

Bering led an overland expedition across Siberia to Kamchatka, then sailed north to map the coast. The expedition confirmed the separation of Asia and America, though Bering did not sight the American coast.

Bering sailed through the strait between Asia and North America, proving that the two continents are separate. The strait was later named the Bering Strait in his honor.

Bering commanded a large expedition to explore the North Pacific. He reached the coast of Alaska, mapping parts of the Aleutian Islands and the Alaskan mainland, but died on the return voyage.

Bering died of scurvy on Bering Island in the Commander Islands after his ship was wrecked during the return voyage. His crew survived the winter and returned to Russia with valuable geographic data.