Maria Pronchishcheva

Maria Pronchishcheva (Мария Прончищева, also known as Tatiana Pronchishcheva, 1710 - 23 September 1736) was a Russian explorer.

1921 picture of the burial site of Vasili and Tatiana Pronchishchev in Ust-Olenyok. The grave was moved after the bodies were exhumed in 1999.[1]

Maria Pronchishcheva (right) and her husband. Forensic facial reconstruction

In 1735, Pronchishcheva and her husband Vasili Pronchishchev went down the Lena River from Yakutsk on Vasili's sloop Yakutsk, doubled its delta, and stopped for wintering at the mouth of the Olenek River. Many members of the crew fell ill and died, mainly owing to scurvy. Despite the difficulties, in 1736, they reached the eastern shore of the Taymyr Peninsula and went north along its coastline. However, Pronchishcheva and her husband succumbed to scurvy and died on the way back.[2]

Maria is considered the first female polar explorer. Maria Pronchishcheva Bay in the Laptev Sea is named after her.