BERING STRAIT. This was the last attemph•d route for polar exploration, but the results of expedition.• that proceeded via Bering Strait are by no means unimportant. V. Bering's voyage of 1725 added nothing to the diseoveries of Desloneff in 11148. The great English navigator Jame, Cook attained in 1778 70' 44' N., near Icy Cape, Alaska. lit 1526 Into v. Kotzebue di- covered Kotzebue Sound, not seen by Cook. The British expedition of F. NV. l3cce•hey reached by ship 71° 8' N., 164° NV.. while his boats under Elson attained Point Barrow. the most northerly point, except. Itoothin Felix. of the ointiiient of America. The voyages of the and In restigator are mentioned under the Northwest Passage. In 1840 11. Is:elicit, R.N., discovered Ilerald Island, and in 1853 John Rodgers of the American navy reached in that sea the highest point gained up to that time, 72° 5' N., 175' NV. An American whaler. T. discovered Wrangell Island. sailing along its south coat in 1867. The most daring and important expedi tion Bering Strait was that under Com mander \V. Di! Long. who sailed in the near in 1879. Beset by the pack, he was unable
to winter at Wrangell Land. but, drifting west • ward past its north coast, he exploded the theory that it was a continent extending across the North Pole. An east-by-north drift emitinning, the De Long Islands were discovered in 1551, (I. \V. Melville landing On Jeannette Island, in 76' 47' N., 159° NV. The Jeannrt te, crushed by ice, sank June 12, 1881. in 77° 15' N., 153° E. De Long retreated southward toward tilt. New Siberian Islands, being parried Willie morehing to 77 ° 36' N., 155° E.. the most northerly point ever reached in that sea from Bering Strait. Separated by storm :Ind entering the Lena Delta by different channels. De Lung and Melville met different fates, the former per ishing of starvation with most of his party. while brought his men to safety and after wards. by a sledge jonrney into the Delta, ascer tained the fate of his leader. De Long perished, Mit his plan was taken up and pushed to success under the daring leadership of Nansen. described under the Nova Zenthla route.