Markku Löytönen

Markku Löytösen suomalaisista tutkimusmatkaajista kertova lasten tietosarja jatkuu viidennellä kirjalla, tällä kertaa näyttämönä on Etelä-Amerikka. Uskontotieteilijä Rafael Karsten teki useita matkoja Etelä-Amerikan intiaanien pariin. Hän tutki heidän elinolojaan ja varsinkin uskontojaan. Tutkimusmatkojensa huipentumana hän sai osallistua ensimmäisenä tutkijana jibaro-intiaanien pääkallonmetsästyksen voitonjuhlaan matkalla, jonka hän teki Ecuadoriin vuosina 1916-1919. Tuohon aikaan vaati suurta sitkeyttä ja uskallusta lähteä viidakkoon tuntemattomiin oloihin. Karstenkin menetti välillä sekä tutkimustuloksensa ja muun omaisuutensa ja oli vähällä menettää henkensäkin. Hänen korvaamattomat keräelmänsä ja muistiinpanonsa tarjoavat jälkimaailmalle ainutlaatuista tietoa Etelä-Amerikan intiaaniheimojen elämästä ja uskomuksista.

The fascinating untold story of Finnish scientist and explorer Pehr Kalm, who in 1750, became the first scientist to visit and study Niagara Falls. Sent by the famous Swedish natural historian Carl Linnaeus to research the New World, Kalm’s task was to collect samples and write descriptions for Linnaeus. His exciting expedition lasted three and a half years, and its impact on the natural sciences was groundbreaking. Kalm described all that he saw: the landscape and geography, colonists’ settlements and customs, Indians and slaves, and of course, many plants and animals. His scientific report on Niagara Falls was the first, and it was published by Benjamin Franklin. Two states have named their state flowers after him, and the Virginia creeper, which he brought back from his travels, now grows all over Finland. The book’s brilliant illustrations offer an accurate and engaging picture of Kalm’s journey, and the text is enriched by passages from Kalm’s own travel journal. From Finland to Niagara Falls is an illustrated history book for the young and the curious of all ages.

The fascinating untold story of Finnish scientist and explorer Pehr Kalm, who in 1750, became the first scientist to visit and study Niagara Falls. Sent by the famous Swedish natural historian Carl Linnaeus to research the New World, Kalm’s task was to collect samples and write descriptions for Linnaeus. His exciting expedition lasted three and a half years, and its impact on the natural sciences was groundbreaking. Kalm described all that he saw: the landscape and geography, colonists’ settlements and customs, Indians and slaves, and of course, many plants and animals. His scientific report on Niagara Falls was the first, and it was published by Benjamin Franklin. Two states have named their state flowers after him, and the Virginia creeper, which he brought back from his travels, now grows all over Finland. The book’s brilliant illustrations offer an accurate and engaging picture of Kalm’s journey, and the text is enriched by passages from Kalm’s own travel journal. From Finland to Niagara Falls is an illustrated history book for the young and the curious of all ages.