Mirko and Stjepan Seljan

Mirko Seljan (April 5, 1871 – 1912/13?) and Stjepan Seljan (August 19, 1875 – June 7, 1936) were important Croatian explorers.

South America

In April of 1903 the two brothers left for Rio de Janeiro in Brazil with the intention of entering areas that were, until that time, unknown, to establish traveling and trade routes and permanent posts. The government of Brazil was interested in enhancing trading and development going from the east to the west. During 1903, they established the Croatian Scientific Mission (Mision Cientifica Croata). They made contacts with the Guarani Indian tribe around the Aguapehu river and intensively mapped the area. At the end of 1903 they were on their way from Salta Grande to Asunción in Paraguay, ending their journey on the Parana river in Argentina. The expedition is described in the book El Salto del Guayra, published in 1905 in Buenos Aires. In 1905 they left for the waterfalls of Iguaçu and later conducted research for the state of Santa Catarina.

Related Topics:
1903 - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil - Croatian Scientific Mission - Mision Cientifica Croata - Guarani - Aguapehu - Salta Grande - Asunción - Paraguay - Parana - Argentina - El Salto del Guayra - 1905 - Buenos Aires - Iguaçu - Santa Catarina

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

With the beginning of 1905, after crossing the Andes by foot and with mules from Argentina, the Seljans arrived in Chile. In Valparaíso as well in Santiago they were planning a new expedition approaching the area of the Amazon River from the south side. Here, they met immigrants from the old country and established the Sociedad Slava Esplatadora de Mato Grosso (Society for the Exploration of Mato Grosso), which was supposed to provide public relations and support expeditions. In May of the same year, they left for Montevideo in Uruguay with their new friend and new explorer Franjo Pommer. Since more time was needed to be properly ready for the journey, they actually started rather late, in 1908 focusing on the Rio Branco and Rio Maraca rivers in the Amazon delta. Exhausted and discouraged by delays in obtaining permits from the government, they decided not to waste time but returned to Chile hoping to see Peru and Bolivia. They passed 1911 exploring the Atacama desert and the area of Tarapaca. In that year, for the first time, they entered Peru. They established Hrvatsko dionicarsko drustvo (Croatian Brokerage Society) with the purpose of helping the government of Peru to plan, finance and build roads connecting two parts of the country, from the Andes to the Amazon basin.

Related Topics:
Andes - Argentina - Chile - Valparaíso - Santiago - Amazon River - Sociedad Slava Esplatadora de Mato Grosso - Montevideo - Uruguay - Franjo Pommer - 1908 - Rio Branco - Rio Maraca - Peru - Bolivia - 1911 - Atacama - Tarapaca

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~