N.About the same time, an Austrian expedition under Payer and Weyprecht explored the highest known land, much to the east, named by them Franz Josef Land, after the Austrian Emperor.
[Illustration: NORTH POLAR REGION--EASTERN HALF.] Simultaneously interest in the northern regions was aroused by the successful exploit of the north-east passage by Professor (afterwards Baron) Nordenskiold, who had made seven or eight voyages in Arctic regions between 1858 and 1870.

He first established the possibility of passing from Norway to the mouth of the Yenesei in the summer, making two journeys in 1875-76.

These have since been followed up for commercial purposes by Captain Wiggins, who has frequently passed from England to the mouth of the Yenesei in a merchant vessel.

As Siberia develops there can be little doubt that this route will become of increasing commercial importance.
Professor Nordenskiold, however, encouraged by his easy passage to the Yenesei, determined to try to get round into Behring Strait from that point, and in 1878 he started in the _Vega_, accompanied by the _Lena_, and a collier to supply them with coal.

On the 19th August they passed Cape Chelyuskin, the most northerly point of the Old World.