Today is the 200th anniversary of the birth of this famous scientist and writer, best-known for his prodigious four-year journey across South America and for the Pacific current which bears his name. Foremost among the many Latin-American nations to celebrate this event will be Mexico, visited by Humboldt in 1803-4 and where he is revered as one of the founders of the country's independence from Spain.
In this birthday tribute Robert Cundy follows Humboldt's route across Mexico from ocean to ocean, Acapulco to Vera Cruz. He descends silver mines and climbs recently erupted volcanoes to present a portrait of a country whose diverse landscape and mysterious past presented an irresistible challenge to a scientist and humanist fascinated by everyone and everything
(from BBC South and West)
(Colour)