The First Kamchatka Expedition is a classic among the voyages of discovery, being famous for the discovery of the Bering Strait between Asia and North America. Chaplin's journal holds a special place among the documents of the expedition. It is the only official document that preserves its history in detail, day by day, from the author's departure from St. Petersburg on 24 January 1725 until his return to the Russian capital on 1 March 1730. The publication includes introductory articles and commentary by leading specialists, a glossary, indexes, and maps.