AVHPA - Alexander von Humboldt PSK Award

European PSK Club • Explorer Route Award Programme

Explorer Route Award

Alexander von Humboldt PSK Award (AVHPA)

The Alexander von Humboldt PSK Award (AVHPA) celebrates the travels, scientific curiosity and global legacy of Alexander von Humboldt — explorer, naturalist, geographer, volcanologist and one of the great connecting figures in the history of science. The award follows Humboldt not by old imperial borders, but by a practical list of modern regions, provinces, states, islands, departments, cities and call areas linked to places he demonstrably visited during his European journeys, his American expedition of 1799–1804, and his Russian-Siberian journey of 1829.

This award turns Humboldt’s route into an on-air challenge. Instead of chasing one single country list, operators work toward a carefully defined set of territories that mirror the modern map of Humboldt’s life and fieldwork: Berlin and Paris, Madrid and Tenerife, Venezuela and Cuba, the Andes of Ecuador and Peru, Mexico, the eastern United States, Italy, Austria, Bohemia, and the vast arc from Saint Petersburg through the Urals to the Altai and eastern Kazakhstan.

To qualify, an applicant must submit an ADIF log showing PSK QSOs with amateur radio stations from 50 different territories out of the 81 valid AVHPA territories listed below. Each territory counts once only. The idea is to recreate Humboldt’s extraordinary scientific path through today’s administrative geography and amateur-radio practice.

The AVHPA honors not only a historic traveler, but also the Humboldtian spirit of connection: observation across borders, comparison across landscapes, and the linking of distant places into one larger understanding of the world.

Creation date: 24.03.2026

PSK Modes

Any Baud Rate

Bands Below 54 MHz

ADIF Evidence

50 Territories Required

Alexander von Humboldt PSK Award artwork

Award Rules 1. Eligibility

The AVHPA may be claimed by any licensed radio amateur, club station, or eligible SWL / DMS operator under the applicable EPC general rules.
All operation must comply with the operator’s licence conditions and the relevant award framework.

2. Basic Requirement

The applicant must provide evidence of having contacted amateur radio stations from any 50 different valid AVHPA territories listed in the table below.
The valid list contains 81 territories in total.
Each territory counts only once toward qualification.
Contacts must be documented in ADIF format.
It is a mandatory requirement that the applicant adds territory references in the COMMENT field of the ADIF file in the format #AVHPA AVH01 ... AVH81, so that the UltimateAAC Award Management Software can process the log properly.

3. Valid Modes and Bands

Only PSK contacts are valid for this award.
Any PSK variant and any baud rate may be used.
Credit is valid on amateur bands below 54 MHz.
Mixed-band submissions are permitted.

4. Territory Method

This award is based on a defined AVHPA territory list rather than a single DXCC-entity requirement.
The list combines modern administrative units and a small number of historically established regional designations used for practical award administration.
Each valid territory is connected to a documented part of Humboldt’s lifetime travel route, residence, embarkation point, scientific base, or field expedition.
Qualification is based solely on the valid AVHPA territory list shown below.

81 Valid territories on the list

50 Territories required for the award

< 54 MHz Any amateur band below 54 MHz

ADIF Evidence format

AVHPA Valid Territory List

Prefix	Territory	AVHPA Code	Modern Type	How it relates to Alexander von Humboldt
CO2	La Habana	AVH01	Province	Havana was one of Humboldt’s major Caribbean bases. He stayed there during both Cuban phases of the American expedition and used the city as a scientific, political and publishing hub.
CO3	Mayabeque	AVH02	Province	This province represents the Batabanó corridor south of Havana, part of Humboldt’s documented movement through western Cuba during his island studies.
CO5	Matanzas	AVH03	Province	Matanzas is tied to Humboldt’s Cuban work on economy, landscape and plantation geography in the western-central part of the island.
CO6	Sancti Spíritus	AVH04	Province	Sancti Spíritus counts for the Trinidad region, which Humboldt visited while examining Cuba’s sugar economy and colonial society.
DL	Bavaria	AVH05	State	Bavaria is included for Humboldt’s 1795 mining and geological journey through Bayreuth, Berneck and the Fichtelgebirge district.
DL	Berlin	AVH06	State	Berlin was Humboldt’s birthplace, later residence and final home, so it belongs to the award route from the beginning and end of his life.
DL	Brandenburg	AVH07	State	Brandenburg represents the Tegel / Berlin surroundings and the Frankfurt (Oder) area connected with Humboldt’s early education and family sphere.
DL	Lower Saxony	AVH08	State	Lower Saxony counts for Göttingen, where Humboldt studied and formed key scientific friendships before his great expeditions.
DL	Saxony	AVH09	State	Saxony is linked to Freiberg and later Dresden, central places in Humboldt’s mining training and scientific development.
EA1	Galicia	AVh70	Autonomous community	Galicia is included because Humboldt sailed from A Coruña in 1799 when he finally left Europe for the American expedition.
EA3	Catalonia	AVh71	Autonomous community	Catalonia represents Barcelona, one of the principal Spanish stages on Humboldt’s overland route before embarkation for the New World.
EA4	Castilla–La Mancha	AVh72	Autonomous community	Castilla–La Mancha counts because Humboldt crossed this interior Spanish region on the route between the Mediterranean coast and Madrid.
EA4	Madrid	AVh73	Autonomous community	Madrid was essential to the expedition: here Humboldt obtained crucial royal permission and prepared the American voyage.
EA5	Valencia	AVh74	Autonomous community	Valencia marks another clearly documented stage on Humboldt’s 1799 journey across Spain toward Madrid and the Atlantic coast.
EA8	Canary Islands	AVh75	Autonomous community / island group	The Canary Islands are included for Humboldt’s famous stop on Tenerife, where he climbed Teide before crossing the Atlantic.
F	Île-de-France	AVh76	Region	Île-de-France counts for Paris, the city that became Humboldt’s principal intellectual base for much of his mature scientific life.
F	Nouvelle-Aquitaine	AVh77	Region	Nouvelle-Aquitaine is included for Bordeaux, the French port region through which Humboldt returned to Europe in 1804.
F	Occitanie	AVh78	Region	Occitanie marks the Nîmes–Montpellier–Perpignan route used by Humboldt during his southbound journey across France.
F	Provence–Alpes–Côte d’Azur	AVh79	Region	This region counts for Marseille and Toulon, major Mediterranean stages in Humboldt’s pre-expedition travel.
HC1	Pichincha	AVh80	Province	Pichincha is one of Humboldt’s signature territories: it includes Quito and the volcanic highlands from which many Andean studies began.
HC2	Guayas	AVh81	Province	Guayas counts for Guayaquil, the key Pacific port from which Humboldt departed Ecuador for the next stage of his American journey.
HC3	Loja	AVh82	Province	Loja is tied to Humboldt’s work on cinchona and Andean vegetation in the southern Ecuadorian highlands.
HC6	Cotopaxi	AVh83	Province	Cotopaxi province is included for Humboldt’s observations in the great volcanic belt south of Quito.
HC6	Chimborazo	AVh84	Province	Chimborazo is central to Humboldt’s legend because his celebrated ascent there became one of the iconic episodes of scientific exploration.
HC7	Napo	AVh85	Province	Napo represents Humboldt’s travel and observations in the eastern Andean / Amazonian flank associated with Antisana and adjoining routes.
HK1	Bolívar	AVh86	Department/State	Bolívar Department counts for Cartagena, Turbaco and Mompox, key Caribbean and Magdalena-route stages of Humboldt’s New Granada journey.
HK3	Bogotá	AVh87	Capital district	Bogotá counts for New Granada’s capital, where Humboldt met leading scholars and gathered information that shaped his American publications.
HK6	Tolima	AVh88	Department	Tolima is included for Honda, the crucial river gateway on Humboldt’s ascent inland from the Caribbean toward Bogotá.
HK6	Quindío	AVh89	Department	Quindío counts for the famous Quindío crossing through the Andes, one of the most demanding overland legs of Humboldt’s New Granada route.
I8	Campania	AVh90	Region	Campania belongs on the list for Naples and Vesuvius, where Humboldt pursued volcanic observations after the American expedition.
IØ	Lazio	AVh91	Region	Lazio counts for Rome, one of the principal Italian stops on Humboldt’s 1805 journey.
K3	Pennsylvania	AVh92	State	Pennsylvania is included for Philadelphia, the leading American scientific city Humboldt visited in 1804.
K3	District of Columbia — Washington, D.C.	AVh93	Territory	Included in the AVHPA because Humboldt’s documented travels passed through or were based in this territory.
K4	Virginia	AVh94	State	Virginia represents the Potomac / Mount Vernon side of Humboldt’s short U.S. visit linked with the Washington area.
ME	Bristol	AVh95	Ceremonial county / city	Bristol counts because Humboldt’s 1790 journey through England included this major western port and commercial city.
ME	Buckinghamshire	AVh96	Ceremonial county	Buckinghamshire is included for the English travel route associated with the country-house and scientific network Humboldt visited in 1790.
ME	Derbyshire	AVh97	Ceremonial county	Derbyshire counts for Humboldt’s observations in England’s industrial and geological districts during the 1790 journey.
ME	Greater London	AVh98	Metropolitan region	Greater London was the main English base of Humboldt’s 1790 visit and connected him to scientific and political circles.
ME	Oxfordshire	AVh99	Ceremonial county	Oxfordshire belongs on the route as part of Humboldt’s documented 1790 movement through southern England’s scholarly landscape.
ME	Somerset	AVH40	Ceremonial county	Somerset counts for the west-country leg of Humboldt’s first English journey, where he observed rural and industrial life.
ME	Warwickshire	AVH41	Ceremonial county	Warwickshire represents part of Humboldt’s inland English route through the Midlands in 1790.
ME	West Midlands	AVH42	Metropolitan county	The West Midlands are included because Humboldt passed through the industrial heartland of England on his 1790 study tour.
OA2	Cajamarca	AVH43	Region	Cajamarca is tied to Humboldt’s Peruvian route through the northern Andes and the Hualgayoc mining district.
OA2	La Libertad	AVH44	Region	La Libertad counts for Trujillo and the nearby archaeological and coastal zone Humboldt visited in northern Peru.
OA4	Lima	AVH45	Region / metropolitan area	Lima is included for Humboldt’s scientifically important stay in the Peruvian capital, especially his coastal and oceanographic observations.
OE1	Vienna	AVH46	State	Vienna was a documented stage on Humboldt’s central European travels before the American expedition.
OE2	Salzburg	AVH47	State	Salzburg is included for the same 1797–1798 central European route that took Humboldt through the Alpine world.
OK1	Bohemia	AVH48	Historical region	Bohemia counts for Prague and the overland route through the Habsburg lands on Humboldt’s journey toward Vienna.
R1A	Saint Petersburg	AVH49	Federal city	Saint Petersburg was the formal starting point and one of the major administrative centers of Humboldt’s 1829 Russian expedition.
R2F	Kaliningrad	AVH50	Oblast	Kaliningrad represents the historic East Prussian / Baltic approach and the Curonian-Spit sector associated with Humboldt’s eastward journey into the Russian Empire.
R3A	Moscow	AVH51	Federal city	Moscow was one of the major cities visited on the 1829 expedition and a key stage on the road east.
R3P	Tula	AVH52	Oblast	Tula counts as part of Humboldt’s well-documented movement through central Russia during the 1829 journey.
R3T	Nizhny Novgorod	AVH53	Oblast	Nizhny Novgorod was an important Volga stage on Humboldt’s route toward the Urals and inner Asia.
R4P	Tatarstan	AVH54	Republic	Tatarstan counts for Kazan, a major scholarly and administrative stop on Humboldt’s 1829 route.
R6U	Astrakhan	AVH55	Oblast	Astrakhan represents the lower Volga / Caspian extension of Humboldt’s Russian journey.
R9A	Chelyabinsk	AVH56	Oblast	Chelyabinsk belongs on the list because Humboldt crossed the southern Ural zone during his mining and geological investigations.
R9C	Sverdlovsk	AVH57	Oblast	Sverdlovsk counts for Yekaterinburg and the northern Ural mining districts, central targets of the 1829 expedition.
R9F	Perm	AVH58	Krai	Perm represents the western-Ural sector traversed during Humboldt’s geological and mining tour.
R9L	Tyumen	AVH59	Oblast	Tyumen is included for Tobolsk and western Siberia, major stations on Humboldt’s eastward route.
R9M	Omsk	AVH60	Oblast	Omsk marks Humboldt’s movement farther into western Siberia during the Russian expedition.
R9S	Orenburg	AVH61	Oblast	Orenburg counts for the southern-Ural steppe gateway on Humboldt’s 1829 journey.
R9Y	Altai Krai	AVH62	Krai	Altai Krai is included because Humboldt traveled into the Altai mining region, one of the eastern high points of the expedition.
R9Z	Altai Republic	AVH63	Republic	The Altai Republic represents the broader Altai mountain world associated with Humboldt’s Siberian fieldwork.
UN-D	Abai Region	AVH64	Region	Abai Region counts for the Semey / eastern Kazakh steppe side of Humboldt’s farthest eastward travels in 1829.
XE1	Morelos	AVH65	State	Morelos is included for Cuernavaca, one of the places Humboldt visited in central Mexico.
XE1	Mexico City	AVH66	Federal entity	Mexico City was one of Humboldt’s most important bases in New Spain, where he assembled data that later fed his great political and scientific works.
XE1	Guanajuato	AVH67	State	Guanajuato counts for the Valenciana mining district, a crucial site in Humboldt’s study of New Spain’s economy and geology.
XE1	Michoacán	AVH68	State	Michoacán is tied to Humboldt’s visit to the Jorullo volcanic region, important for his volcanological work.
XE1	Puebla	AVH69	State	Puebla belongs on the route because Humboldt passed through it on the inland road between Mexico City and Veracruz.
XE1	Veracruz	AVH70	State	Veracruz counts for the coastal entry-and-exit corridor of New Spain, including the Xalapa route and Humboldt’s return to the Atlantic.
XE1	Hidalgo	AVH71	State	Hidalgo is included for the Pachuca / Real del Monte and Santa María Regla mining districts associated with Humboldt’s Mexican research.
XE3	Guerrero	AVH72	State	Guerrero counts for Acapulco and Taxco, both major stages in Humboldt’s Mexican itinerary.
YV4	Aragua	AVH73	State	Aragua represents the Lake Valencia district, one of the best-known landscapes Humboldt analyzed in Venezuela.
YV5	Caracas	AVH74	Capital district / city	Caracas was a major Venezuelan base from which Humboldt planned excursions and gathered political and scientific information.
YV5	Miranda	AVH75	State	Miranda counts for the coastal corridor east of Caracas, including Higuerote and adjoining stages of the Venezuelan journey.
YV5	Guárico	AVH76	State	Guárico represents the llanos interior around Calabozo, where Humboldt made classic observations on plains ecology and electric eels.
YV6	Bolívar	AVH77	Department/State	Bolívar state is included for Angostura (today Ciudad Bolívar), a major Orinoco stage near the end of Humboldt’s Venezuelan river expedition.
YV7	Sucre	AVH78	State	Sucre counts for Cumaná, Humboldt’s first mainland landing in South America and one of the foundational sites of the American expedition.
YV8	Monagas	AVH79	State	Monagas is included for Caripe and the Cueva del Guácharo region visited during Humboldt’s Venezuelan explorations.
YV9	Apure	AVH80	State	Apure counts for San Fernando de Apure and the river route that led Humboldt toward the Orinoco basin.
YV9	Amazonas	AVH81	State	Amazonas is one of Humboldt’s defining territories, covering the upper Orinoco–Casiquiare–Río Negro sector of his great river journey.

Note: Qualification for the AVHPA is based only on working 50 different territories from the valid AVHPA list above. The award title honors Alexander von Humboldt and the geography of his documented journeys; administration is based on the modern territory list shown here.

Links