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Fearless Conquerors of Ice: Russia Celebrates Day of Polar Explorers

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On May 21, the Day of Polar Explorers is celebrated in Russia. On that day in 1937 the first scientific and research expedition started working at the North Pole drifting station in the Arctic Ocean. Later, the station was named North Pole-1. The history of Arctic exploration in Russia – in our photo gallery.

On May 21, the Day of Polar Explorers is celebrated in Russia. On that day in 1937 the first scientific and research expedition started working at the North Pole drifting station in the Arctic Ocean. Later, the station was named North Pole-1. The history of Arctic exploration in Russia – in our photo gallery.

 

© Sputnik / Tomin / Go to the mediabankThe idea to establish a new holiday commemorating polar explorers was proposed by Russian senators in December 2012. On May 21, 2013, Day of Polar Explorers was inaugurated by the order of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Above: Participants in the first expedition on the drifting station (left to right): Pyotr Shirshov, Ernst Krenkel, Ivan Papanin, Evgeny Fyodorov.
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The idea to establish a new holiday commemorating polar explorers was proposed by Russian senators in December 2012. On May 21, 2013, Day of Polar Explorers was inaugurated by the order of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Above: Participants in the first expedition on the drifting station (left to right): Pyotr Shirshov, Ernst Krenkel, Ivan Papanin, Evgeny Fyodorov.
© Sputnik / Eshurin / Go to the mediabankNorth Pole-1 was the first Soviet manned drifting station in the Arctic Ocean. The Soviet government made the decision to establish the station in February 1936.

Above: Penguins. In the background: the diesel electric ship Ob of a Soviet Antarctic expedition at Depot Bay.
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North Pole-1 was the first Soviet manned drifting station in the Arctic Ocean. The Soviet government made the decision to establish the station in February 1936.

Above: Penguins. In the background: the diesel electric ship Ob of a Soviet Antarctic expedition at Depot Bay.
© Sputnik / Pavlov / Go to the mediabankThe North Pole station was primarily used for oceanographic, meteorological and geophysical research for the economic and social development of Russia’s Far North, including navigation via the Northern Sea Route and trans-Arctic flights by Soviet aviation.

Above: Alexander Chernyshov, head of North Pole-28 research drifting ice station.
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The North Pole station was primarily used for oceanographic, meteorological and geophysical research for the economic and social development of Russia’s Far North, including navigation via the Northern Sea Route and trans-Arctic flights by Soviet aviation.

Above: Alexander Chernyshov, head of North Pole-28 research drifting ice station.
© Sputnik / RIA Novosti / Go to the mediabankIvan Papanin was appointed commander of the North Pole station. The expedition also comprised oceanologist Pyotr Shirshov, geophysicist and meteorologist Evgeny Fyodorov and radio operator Ernst Krenkel. The expedition used the ANT-6 transport aircraft designed by Andrei Tupolev because of its payload and flight range capabilities. Four aircraft dubbed Aviaarktika (Air Arctic) were specially modernized for use in the harsh conditions of the Arctic Region.

Above: Polar explorers doing morning exercises.
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Ivan Papanin was appointed commander of the North Pole station. The expedition also comprised oceanologist Pyotr Shirshov, geophysicist and meteorologist Evgeny Fyodorov and radio operator Ernst Krenkel. The expedition used the ANT-6 transport aircraft designed by Andrei Tupolev because of its payload and flight range capabilities. Four aircraft dubbed Aviaarktika (Air Arctic) were specially modernized for use in the harsh conditions of the Arctic Region.

Above: Polar explorers doing morning exercises.
© Sputnik / Roman Denisov / Go to the mediabankThe base for the North Pole flight was established on Rudolph Island of the Franz Josef Land archipelago (900 kilometers from the North Pole). Stockpiles of food and fuel were delivered to the base from the mainland. A radio beacon and an airfield were constructed at the island. In early-May 1937, pilots chose the place for landing at the North Pole. On May 21, 1937, the flagship aircraft along with the expedition took off from the Rudolph Island, flew 20 kilometers over the North Pole and landed on a drifting ice floe.

Above: People near the "The Polar Circle" sign.
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The base for the North Pole flight was established on Rudolph Island of the Franz Josef Land archipelago (900 kilometers from the North Pole). Stockpiles of food and fuel were delivered to the base from the mainland. A radio beacon and an airfield were constructed at the island. In early-May 1937, pilots chose the place for landing at the North Pole. On May 21, 1937, the flagship aircraft along with the expedition took off from the Rudolph Island, flew 20 kilometers over the North Pole and landed on a drifting ice floe.

Above: People near the "The Polar Circle" sign.
© Sputnik / I. Snegirev / Go to the mediabankThe first plane airlifted 13 people to the North Pole, including four polar explorers. The rest of the expedition arrived only on June 5. On June 6, 1937, the North Pole-1 station was officially opened. The four explorers who stayed at the ice floe were later known as Papanin’s team. The camp was equipped with a booth for living and work, two radio masts, warehouses, a workshop, a meteorological booth and measurement equipment. Initially, it was planned that the expedition would work at the North Pole for one year.

Above: An Arctic expedition researcher relaxing.
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The first plane airlifted 13 people to the North Pole, including four polar explorers. The rest of the expedition arrived only on June 5. On June 6, 1937, the North Pole-1 station was officially opened. The four explorers who stayed at the ice floe were later known as Papanin’s team. The camp was equipped with a booth for living and work, two radio masts, warehouses, a workshop, a meteorological booth and measurement equipment. Initially, it was planned that the expedition would work at the North Pole for one year.

Above: An Arctic expedition researcher relaxing.
© Sputnik / Anna Yudina / Go to the mediabankAs the expedition found out, the depth of the sea behind the ice floe was 4,290 meters. Each day, the researchers collected ground samples, measured sea depth and the drifting speed, designated coordinates and conducted hydrological and meteorological observations.

Above: Russian polar explorers work to set up the drifting station SP-40 in the Arctic.
Fearless Conquerors of Ice: Russia Celebrates Day of Polar Explorers - Sputnik International
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As the expedition found out, the depth of the sea behind the ice floe was 4,290 meters. Each day, the researchers collected ground samples, measured sea depth and the drifting speed, designated coordinates and conducted hydrological and meteorological observations.

Above: Russian polar explorers work to set up the drifting station SP-40 in the Arctic.
© Sputnik / Yuriy Korolev / Go to the mediabankThe North Pole-1 station operated for 274 days. During that period, the station was moved by ice drifting into the strait between Greenland and Spitzbergen. The ice floe travelled a total of 2,500 kilometers in the Arctic Ocean and the Greenland Sea. Due to high compression, the ice floe cracked for several times. Finally, due to safety concerns, it was decided to end the expedition. On February 19, 1938, the Soviet ice breakers Taimyr and Murman took four polar explorers off the station close to the eastern coast of Greenland. They arrived in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) on March 15 on board the Icebreaker Yermak.

Above: A land surveyor at the SP-11 scientific station studying the area.
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The North Pole-1 station operated for 274 days. During that period, the station was moved by ice drifting into the strait between Greenland and Spitzbergen. The ice floe travelled a total of 2,500 kilometers in the Arctic Ocean and the Greenland Sea. Due to high compression, the ice floe cracked for several times. Finally, due to safety concerns, it was decided to end the expedition. On February 19, 1938, the Soviet ice breakers Taimyr and Murman took four polar explorers off the station close to the eastern coast of Greenland. They arrived in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) on March 15 on board the Icebreaker Yermak.

Above: A land surveyor at the SP-11 scientific station studying the area.
© Sputnik / A. Abaza / Go to the mediabankThe North Pole-1 expedition gathered unique scientific materials on Arctic nature and processes occurring there. Meteorological data from the NP-1 provided reliable experimental data on the atmosphere and oceanic process in central Arctic areas. On March 6, 1938, their data was submitted to a conference of the Soviet Academy of Sciences where they were highly appraised.

Above: Skiers of an Arctic research and athletic expedition organized by the Moscow-based newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda, en route.
Fearless Conquerors of Ice: Russia Celebrates Day of Polar Explorers - Sputnik International
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The North Pole-1 expedition gathered unique scientific materials on Arctic nature and processes occurring there. Meteorological data from the NP-1 provided reliable experimental data on the atmosphere and oceanic process in central Arctic areas. On March 6, 1938, their data was submitted to a conference of the Soviet Academy of Sciences where they were highly appraised.

Above: Skiers of an Arctic research and athletic expedition organized by the Moscow-based newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda, en route.
© Sputnik / V. Chistiakov / Go to the mediabankAll the four members of the North Pole-1 expedition were awarded with the Hero of the Soviet Union title.

Above: A participant in the women's Antarctic scientific-sports expedition "Metelitsa" whose crew made a ski crossing from Mirny Station to the Pole of Cold, the Vostok Station.
Fearless Conquerors of Ice: Russia Celebrates Day of Polar Explorers - Sputnik International
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All the four members of the North Pole-1 expedition were awarded with the Hero of the Soviet Union title.

Above: A participant in the women's Antarctic scientific-sports expedition "Metelitsa" whose crew made a ski crossing from Mirny Station to the Pole of Cold, the Vostok Station.
© Sputnik / Alexander Mokletsov / Go to the mediabankFollowing NP-1, each year the USSR (and then Russia) has opened a new drifting station in Arctic. The stations are named North Pole, followed by and ordinal number: NP-1, etc.

Above: The North Pole-11 drifting station.
Fearless Conquerors of Ice: Russia Celebrates Day of Polar Explorers - Sputnik International
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Following NP-1, each year the USSR (and then Russia) has opened a new drifting station in Arctic. The stations are named North Pole, followed by and ordinal number: NP-1, etc.

Above: The North Pole-11 drifting station.
© Sputnik / V. Chistiakov / Go to the mediabankNP drifting stations carry out complex year-round research in the fields of oceanology, ice studies, meteorology, aerology, geophysics, hydrochemistry, hydrophysics, and marine biology. On average, an NP station is the host for 600 to 650 ocean depth measurements, 3500 to 3900 complex meteorology measurements, 1200 to 1300 temperature measurements and sea water probes for chemical analysis, 600 to 650 research balloon launches. Magnetic, ionosphere, ice and other observations are also carried out there. Regular measurements of the ice flow coordinates provide the data on the direction and speed of its drift.

Above: The Krenkel meteorological station at Franz Josef Land.
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NP drifting stations carry out complex year-round research in the fields of oceanology, ice studies, meteorology, aerology, geophysics, hydrochemistry, hydrophysics, and marine biology. On average, an NP station is the host for 600 to 650 ocean depth measurements, 3500 to 3900 complex meteorology measurements, 1200 to 1300 temperature measurements and sea water probes for chemical analysis, 600 to 650 research balloon launches. Magnetic, ionosphere, ice and other observations are also carried out there. Regular measurements of the ice flow coordinates provide the data on the direction and speed of its drift.

Above: The Krenkel meteorological station at Franz Josef Land.
© Sputnik / Roman Denisov / Go to the mediabankThe last Soviet NP station, North Pole-31, was closed in July 1991. In the post-Soviet era, Russian exploration of the Arctic by drifting ice stations was suspended for twelve years. Only in 2003 did Russia return to the Arctic.

Above: Vladimir Gulnev, the mechanic of the North Pole-25 Arctic research drifting station, with his favorite Canadian husky.
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The last Soviet NP station, North Pole-31, was closed in July 1991. In the post-Soviet era, Russian exploration of the Arctic by drifting ice stations was suspended for twelve years. Only in 2003 did Russia return to the Arctic.

Above: Vladimir Gulnev, the mechanic of the North Pole-25 Arctic research drifting station, with his favorite Canadian husky.
© Sputnik / Anna Yudina / Go to the mediabankThe modern NP drifting ice station resembles a small settlement with housing for polar explorers and special buildings for the scientific equipment. Usually an NP station begins operations in April and continues for two or three years until the ice floe reaches the Greenland Sea. Polar explorers are substituted yearly. In 2015, the North Pole-41 station opened in mid-April in the area of the geographic North Pole. The Russian government unveiled more than 205 million rubles (over $4 million) to maintain NP-41.

Above: Russian polar explorers, who traveled to the Arctic to set up a new drifting station SP-40.
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The modern NP drifting ice station resembles a small settlement with housing for polar explorers and special buildings for the scientific equipment. Usually an NP station begins operations in April and continues for two or three years until the ice floe reaches the Greenland Sea. Polar explorers are substituted yearly. In 2015, the North Pole-41 station opened in mid-April in the area of the geographic North Pole. The Russian government unveiled more than 205 million rubles (over $4 million) to maintain NP-41.

Above: Russian polar explorers, who traveled to the Arctic to set up a new drifting station SP-40.
© Sputnik / Roman Denisov / Go to the mediabankNowadays, as global interest in Arctic is growing, the NP station is one of the most important factors contributing to scientific research, including the growing need for Arctic resources and protection of its environment. According to experts, there are up to two million people in Russia who can be considered Arctic explorers.

Above: Polar bears at the North Pole-19 drifting station.
Fearless Conquerors of Ice: Russia Celebrates Day of Polar Explorers - Sputnik International
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Nowadays, as global interest in Arctic is growing, the NP station is one of the most important factors contributing to scientific research, including the growing need for Arctic resources and protection of its environment. According to experts, there are up to two million people in Russia who can be considered Arctic explorers.

Above: Polar bears at the North Pole-19 drifting station.
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