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Expedition to Lapland

April 11, 2024

The expedition to Lapland, the northernmost region in Sweden, by Carl Linnaeus between May and October 1732 was an important part of his scientific career.

Linnaeus in the traditional dress of the Sami people of Lapland,[note 1] holding the Twinflower that became his personal emblem.
Contemporary map by Johann Homann (printed c. 1730) depicting the Scandinavian region of Europe; Lapland is the pale yellow area in the upper-middle.[note 2]
Waypoints[1] for Linnaeus' Lapland expedition.[note 3]

Linnaeus departed from Uppsala and travelled clockwise around the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia over the course of six months, making major inland incursions from Umeå, Luleå and Tornio. His observations became the basis of his book Flora Lapponica (1737) in which Linnaeus’ ideas about nomenclature and classification were first used in a practical way.[2] Linnaeus kept a journal of his expedition which was first published posthumously as an English translation called Lachesis Lapponica: A Tour in Lapland (1811).

Background edit

In April 1732, Linnaeus was awarded a grant from the Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala for his journey. Olof Rudbeck the Younger, one of Linnaeus' former professors at Uppsala University, had made an expedition to Lapland in 1695, but the detailed results of his exploration were lost in a fire seven years afterwards. Linnaeus' hope was to find new plants, animals and possibly valuable minerals. He was also curious about the customs of the native Sami people, reindeer-herding nomads who wandered the vast tundras of Fenno-Scandinavia.[3][4]

Uppsala to Umeå edit

Linnaeus began his expedition from Uppsala in May; he travelled on foot and horse, bringing with him his journal, botanical and ornithological manuscripts and sheets of paper for pressing plants. It took him 11 days to reach Umeå, via Gävle (near which he found great quantities of Campanula serpyllifolia, later known as Linnaea borealis, the twinflower that would become his favourite).[5] He sometimes dismounted on the way to examine a flower or rock[6] and was particularly interested in mosses and lichens, the latter a main part of the diet of the reindeer, a common animal in Lapland.[7]

First inland incursion edit

From Umeå, Linnaeus headed towards Lycksele, a town much further inland from the coast than he had traveled until then, examining water birds on the way. After five days, he reached the town and stayed with the pastor and his wife.[5] He then attempted to reach Sorsele but had to turn around at a place called Lycksmyran ("lucky marsh") due to extremely difficult conditions.[8] In the beginning of June he returned to Umeå after having spent additional days in Lycksele, and learning more of the customs of the Sami.[9] (See e.g. Tablut)

Umeå to Luleå and second inland incursion edit

After returning to Umeå, he travelled further north along the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia, via Skellefteå and Old Piteå, passing Old Luleå where he received a Sami woman's cap on the way.[10] From Luleå he again traveled inland, following the Lule River via Jokkmokk on the arctic circle and Kvikkjokk (then Hyttan), into the Scandinavian Mountains, crossing the border into Norway, arriving in Sørfold on the coast and making a trip to nearby Rörstadt. He then returned the way he came, approximately 300 kilometres (190 mi) back to Luleå.[11]

Luleå to Tornio, third inland incursion and return to Uppsala edit

Linnaeus then continued his travel along the coast to Tornio (Torneå in Swedish), from which he made his third and final inland incursion, along the Torne River as far as Vittangi. He spent some time in the Tornio area; in Kalix he received instructions in assaying. In the middle of September he began his return journey. Travelling via Kemi, he followed the Finnish coastline to Turku (Åbo in Swedish), where he sailed via Åland, arriving in Sweden in Grisslehamn and then finally home to Uppsala.[12]

Results edit

He returned from his six-month-long, over 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) expedition on 10 October, having gathered and observed many plants, birds and rocks.[13][14][15] Although Lapland was a region with limited biodiversity, Linnaeus described about a hundred previously undescribed plants. The details of his discoveries became the basis of his book Flora Lapponica.[16][17]

Linnaeus's account of the journey, Iter Lapponicum[18] was translated into English by James Edward Smith and published in 1811 as Lachesis Lapponica: A Tour in Lapland. Some of Linnaeus' original illustrations:

Notes edit

  1. ^ For a full view of the clothing and drum, see File:Carl Linnaeus dressed as a Laplander.jpg
    Regarding the Sami drums and their religion, Blunt (2001; Pages 45 and 54) recounts two anecdotes from Linnaeus' Lapland expedition: Linnaeus showed a Sami some of his highly accurate drawings of wildlife; the man "was alarmed at the sight, took off his cap, bowed, and remained with head down and his hand on his breast as if in veneration, muttering to himself and trembling as if he were just going to faint." This was because "he thought the drawings magical, like those on the drums of his own country, and Linnaeus a wizard." At another time, Linnaeus was "told that when a [Sami] refused to surrender objects of his religion such as his magic drum or his idols to the missionaries, his coat would be removed and he would be held down while the main artery in his arm was opened; he was then left to bleed until he had promised to come to heel – a procedure, says Linnaeus, that was 'often successful'."
  2. ^ In 1809 Lapland was split between Sweden and the newly formed Grand Duchy of Finland; for the region traditionally inhabited by the Sami people which stretched from Norway to Russia, see Sápmi (area).
  3. ^ See also this map 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine showing Linnaeus' travels during his Lapland expedition via [1] from Linné, Carl von. 1991. Lappländische Reise und andere Schriften. Leipzig.

References edit

  1. ^ Blunt (2001) Pages 41–65
  2. ^ Frodin, David 2002. Guide to Standard Floras of the World, 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge. p. 27.
  3. ^ Anderson (1997) Pages 42–43
  4. ^ Blunt (2001) Page 38
  5. ^ a b Blunt (2001) Pages 42–43
  6. ^ Anderson (1997) Pages 43–44
  7. ^ Anderson (1997) Page 46
  8. ^ Blunt (2001) Pages 47–51
  9. ^ Blunt (2001) Pages 45–47
  10. ^ Anderson (1997) Pages 50–51
  11. ^ Blunt (2001) Pages 55–56
  12. ^ Blunt (2001) Pages 64–65
  13. ^ Blunt (2001) Pages 63–65
  14. ^ Blunt (2004) Pages 39–42
  15. ^ Broberg (2006) Page 29
  16. ^ Quammen, David (June 2007). . National Geographic: 2. Archived from the original on April 15, 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-03.
  17. ^ Stöver (1974) Pages 38–39
  18. ^ "Carl von Linnés Ungdomsskrifter, Andra serien". 1889.

Bibliography edit

External links edit

April 11, 2024
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The expedition to Lapland the northernmost region in Sweden by Carl Linnaeus between May and October 1732 was an important part of his scientific career Linnaeus in the traditional dress of the Sami people of Lapland note 1 holding the Twinflower that became his personal emblem Contemporary map by Johann Homann printed c 1730 depicting the Scandinavian region of Europe Lapland is the pale yellow area in the upper middle note 2 Waypoints 1 for Linnaeus Lapland expedition note 3 Linnaeus departed from Uppsala and travelled clockwise around the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia over the course of six months making major inland incursions from Umea Lulea and Tornio His observations became the basis of his book Flora Lapponica 1737 in which Linnaeus ideas about nomenclature and classification were first used in a practical way 2 Linnaeus kept a journal of his expedition which was first published posthumously as an English translation called Lachesis Lapponica A Tour in Lapland 1811 Contents 1 Background 2 Uppsala to Umea 3 First inland incursion 4 Umea to Lulea and second inland incursion 5 Lulea to Tornio third inland incursion and return to Uppsala 6 Results 7 Notes 8 References 9 Bibliography 10 External linksBackground editIn April 1732 Linnaeus was awarded a grant from the Royal Society of Sciences in Uppsala for his journey Olof Rudbeck the Younger one of Linnaeus former professors at Uppsala University had made an expedition to Lapland in 1695 but the detailed results of his exploration were lost in a fire seven years afterwards Linnaeus hope was to find new plants animals and possibly valuable minerals He was also curious about the customs of the native Sami people reindeer herding nomads who wandered the vast tundras of Fenno Scandinavia 3 4 Uppsala to Umea editLinnaeus began his expedition from Uppsala in May he travelled on foot and horse bringing with him his journal botanical and ornithological manuscripts and sheets of paper for pressing plants It took him 11 days to reach Umea via Gavle near which he found great quantities of Campanula serpyllifolia later known as Linnaea borealis the twinflower that would become his favourite 5 He sometimes dismounted on the way to examine a flower or rock 6 and was particularly interested in mosses and lichens the latter a main part of the diet of the reindeer a common animal in Lapland 7 First inland incursion editFrom Umea Linnaeus headed towards Lycksele a town much further inland from the coast than he had traveled until then examining water birds on the way After five days he reached the town and stayed with the pastor and his wife 5 He then attempted to reach Sorsele but had to turn around at a place called Lycksmyran lucky marsh due to extremely difficult conditions 8 In the beginning of June he returned to Umea after having spent additional days in Lycksele and learning more of the customs of the Sami 9 See e g Tablut Umea to Lulea and second inland incursion editAfter returning to Umea he travelled further north along the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia via Skelleftea and Old Pitea passing Old Lulea where he received a Sami woman s cap on the way 10 From Lulea he again traveled inland following the Lule River via Jokkmokk on the arctic circle and Kvikkjokk then Hyttan into the Scandinavian Mountains crossing the border into Norway arriving in Sorfold on the coast and making a trip to nearby Rorstadt He then returned the way he came approximately 300 kilometres 190 mi back to Lulea 11 Lulea to Tornio third inland incursion and return to Uppsala editLinnaeus then continued his travel along the coast to Tornio Tornea in Swedish from which he made his third and final inland incursion along the Torne River as far as Vittangi He spent some time in the Tornio area in Kalix he received instructions in assaying In the middle of September he began his return journey Travelling via Kemi he followed the Finnish coastline to Turku Abo in Swedish where he sailed via Aland arriving in Sweden in Grisslehamn and then finally home to Uppsala 12 Results editHe returned from his six month long over 2 000 kilometres 1 200 mi expedition on 10 October having gathered and observed many plants birds and rocks 13 14 15 Although Lapland was a region with limited biodiversity Linnaeus described about a hundred previously undescribed plants The details of his discoveries became the basis of his book Flora Lapponica 16 17 Linnaeus s account of the journey Iter Lapponicum 18 was translated into English by James Edward Smith and published in 1811 as Lachesis Lapponica A Tour in Lapland Some of Linnaeus original illustrations nbsp The mythological Andromeda and the plant he named for her nbsp A Sami carrying his boat Notes edit For a full view of the clothing and drum see File Carl Linnaeus dressed as a Laplander jpgRegarding the Sami drums and their religion Blunt 2001 Pages 45 and 54 recounts two anecdotes from Linnaeus Lapland expedition Linnaeus showed a Sami some of his highly accurate drawings of wildlife the man was alarmed at the sight took off his cap bowed and remained with head down and his hand on his breast as if in veneration muttering to himself and trembling as if he were just going to faint This was because he thought the drawings magical like those on the drums of his own country and Linnaeus a wizard At another time Linnaeus was told that when a Sami refused to surrender objects of his religion such as his magic drum or his idols to the missionaries his coat would be removed and he would be held down while the main artery in his arm was opened he was then left to bleed until he had promised to come to heel a procedure says Linnaeus that was often successful In 1809 Lapland was split between Sweden and the newly formed Grand Duchy of Finland for the region traditionally inhabited by the Sami people which stretched from Norway to Russia see Sapmi area See also this map Archived 2016 03 03 at the Wayback Machine showing Linnaeus travels during his Lapland expedition via 1 from Linne Carl von 1991 Lapplandische Reise und andere Schriften Leipzig References edit Blunt 2001 Pages 41 65 Frodin David 2002 Guide to Standard Floras of the World 2nd ed Cambridge University Press Cambridge p 27 Anderson 1997 Pages 42 43 Blunt 2001 Page 38 a b Blunt 2001 Pages 42 43 Anderson 1997 Pages 43 44 Anderson 1997 Page 46 Blunt 2001 Pages 47 51 Blunt 2001 Pages 45 47 Anderson 1997 Pages 50 51 Blunt 2001 Pages 55 56 Blunt 2001 Pages 64 65 Blunt 2001 Pages 63 65 Blunt 2004 Pages 39 42 Broberg 2006 Page 29 Quammen David June 2007 The Name Giver National Geographic 2 Archived from the original on April 15 2010 Retrieved 2010 04 03 Stover 1974 Pages 38 39 Carl von Linnes Ungdomsskrifter Andra serien 1889 Bibliography editAnderson Margaret J 1997 Carl Linnaeus father of classification United States Enslow Publishers ISBN 978 0 89490 786 9 Blunt Wilfrid 2001 Linnaeus the compleat naturalist London Frances Lincoln ISBN 0 7112 1841 2 permanent dead link Blunt Wilfrid 2004 Linnaeus the compleat naturalist London Frances Lincoln ISBN 0 7112 2362 9 Broberg Gunnar 2006 Carl Linnaeus Stockholm Swedish Institute ISBN 91 520 0912 2 Linnaeus Carl 1811 Lachesis Lapponica A Tour in Lapland Tr James Edward Smith London White and Cochrane Stover Dietrich Johann Heinrich 1794 Joseph Trapp ed The life of Sir Charles Linnaeus London Library of Congress ISBN 0 19 850122 6 External links editA Tour in Lapland by Carolus Linnaeus Unabridged fully illustrated edition at the Ex Classics Project Can be read online or downloaded in various formats Lachesis Lapponica or a TOUR IN LAPLAND volume 1 presented by James Edward Smith of the Linnean Society of London and preserved at the Internet Archive Lachesis Lapponica or a TOUR IN LAPLAND volume 2 presented by James Edward Smith of the Linnean Society of London and preserved at the Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Expedition to Lapland amp oldid 1215181556, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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