Vitus Bering: Across Siberia to North America In 1733, the most complete scientific expedition in history up to that time left st. Petersburg Russia. The expedition has to cross Siberia in order to reach the Pacific Ocean. Petersburg with almost 600 people.many people in the expiration,so they had to build their own buildings. Bering made careful plans,but there were always problems . their water supply was low,but when the men went ashore in Alaska, they got water that was a little salty. Many of the men were sick from scurvy. The Russian government had lost interest in the north pacific . Today, We have the Bering Sea between Siberia and Alaska to remind us of the leader of this great scientific expedition.