Humboldt

1. The story of
Alexander
von
Humboldt

2. The Beginning
The Journey
Climbing
Later in life
P.Y.P
The route of Alexander von Humboldt
Timeline
Our little movie

3. Alexander Von Humboldt was born in
1769, Berlin, Germany. He was a very
smart young boy so in 1773 (4 years old)
he already knew how to read and write
very well. His father was an officer and
died in 1778 when Alexander was only 9.
So he and his brother Wilhelm were raised
by their mother.

4. In 1792 (aged 22) he began a job as a
government mine inspector in Franconia,
Prussia.
Humboldt’s Job

5. Humboldt set sail for South America
on June 5
th
, 1779, with the best
scientific instruments of his time –
sextants, compasses , telescopes and
microscopes. He was a scientist ,
geologist, archaeologist, geographer,
zoologist and explorer, intent on
finding out about the unity of nature.

6. Humboldt eventually visited the
Canary Islands, Venezuela,
Brazil, Cuba, Columbia, Ecuador,
Bolivia, Peru, Mexico and the
Eastern United States.
He collected geological,
zoological, botanical and
ethnographical specimens,
including 60,000 rare species of
new tropical plants.

7. While he was there Humboldt discovered what we now
call the Humboldt Current on the west coast of South
America. He was investigating why the interior of Peru
was so dry. The current is a cold ocean current that flows
along most of the western coast of South America.
Humboldt was the first person to help preserve the
Cinchona plant because it was over harvested at that time
and it’s bark contains quinine which is used to cure
Malaria. Humboldt was also the first person to make
accurate maps of the Inca ruins in South America.

8. Von Humboldt discovered and mapped the
Casiquiare Canal, the only natural canal that
connects two major rivers. He was also the
first to discover the importance of guano,
which is dried droppings of fish-eating birds,
which is an excellent fertilizer.
Von Humboldt studied electricity and is
credited as discovering the first animal that
produced electricity, the electric eel.
Water, Water, Everywhere

9. Climbing
He climbed near the summit of
Mt. Chimborazo (20,720 ft), he reached
19,860 ft. He climbed in 1802.
Portrait of Alexander von
Humboldt with Mt.
Chimborazo in the
background.

10. Later in Life
When Alexander Von Humboldt travelled
to the Ural Mountains in Siberia and to
Central Asia, he was at an old age of 60.
He wrote books about his discoveries.
One of his books, “A Personal Narrative”,
inspired young Charles Darwin. His last
masterpiece “Kosmos” tried to unify all
science. He died at an age of 90 leaving
“Kosmos” unfinished.

11. Baron Alexander von
Humboldt died on May 6
th

1859. He was given a lavish
funeral which Berlin usually
reserved for royalty. He was
buried on the family estate at
Schloss Tegel.

12. After Death
After his death many things were named
after him like a current, a river, a mountain
range, a reservoir, a salt marsh, parks
many counties and towns are all named
after him.

13. PYP
We think Alexander Von Humboldt was an
Inquirer because he was a zoologist and he
studies a lot of animals and plants.
We think Alexander von Humboldt was a
Knowledgeable person because he learned
many things at a very young age. He also
wrote 30 volumes of books in French when
he was German.

14. PYP
We think Alexander Von Humboldt was a
very good Communicator because he was
German and he knew how to read, write
and speak French.
I think Alexander Von Humboldt is a
Reflective person Because he had to think
back on what plants he found.

17. The timeline
My timeline
1769
Alexander was born
1775
He knew how to read and write well
1778
His dad died
1799
He mapped over1700 miles of the Orinoco river
1800
He travelled to South America
1802
He climbed Mt Chimborazo
1803
He explored Mexico
1804
He wrote 30 volumes on field studies in Paris and stayed for 23 years
Alex died
1859

19. PLEASE APLAUD
By Vanessa, Kirsten, Sophie,
Mao and Sam

20. Made by Kirsten, Vanessa, Sam, Mao,
Sophie
Edited by Kirsten, Vanessa, Sam , Mao,
Sophie
Special thanks to Mr. Baron and Mr.
Fennely
Pictures from the internet
Copyright service