Arctica-2012 Expedition Aboard a Nuclear Icebreaker

The Arctica-2012 Expedition, which left Murmansk on September 8 and returned on October 9, had the task of removing drifting research station North Pole-39 from the ice and disembarking its successor, North Pole-40.

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© RIA Novosti . Anna Yudina

The Arctica-2012 Expedition, which left Murmansk on September 8 and returned on October 9, had the task of removing drifting research station North Pole-39 from the ice and disembarking its successor, North Pole-40.

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© RIA Novosti . Anna Yudina

The nuclear-powered icebreaker Rossiya covered more than 10,300 kilometers, including 6,700 kilometers in the Arctic ice.

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© Sputnik / Anna Yudina

Rossiya passed through the North Pole, which was visited 90 times by ships from different countries in 1977-2011, including 67 times by Russian icebreakers on tourist cruises.

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© RIA Novosti . Anna Yudina

A drifting ice station is a small “village” with houses, streets packed in the snow, and exterior lighting. The nuclear icebreaker towers above the village.

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© RIA Novosti . Anna Yudina

The red superstructure of nuclear icebreakers is designed to make them clearly visible against the white background to avoid collisions, although other ships are unlikely to reach the latitudes where Rossiya is now because of the thick ice.

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© RIA Novosti . Anna Yudina

The closing ceremony for North Pole-39. Off-duty personnel can descend to the patch in front of the icebreaker and take part in the celebrations.

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© RIA Novosti . Anna Yudina

With North Pole-39 on board, Rossiya is on the lookout for a suitable ice floe for North Pole-40. A reconnaissance helicopter takes off to find an ice field thick enough and large enough to accommodate a drifting station.

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© RIA Novosti . Anna Yudina

After a week of searching, North Pole-40 ends up established at 85 degrees north latitude and 143 degrees west longitude.

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© RIA Novosti . Anna Yudina

North Pole-40 was opened on October 1, exactly one year after the establishment of its predecessor, North Pole-39.

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© RIA Novosti . Anna Yudina

Saying goodbye to the polar station’s personnel and shoving off are the most moving and memorable moments of the expedition. In line with an old maritime tradition, the icebreaker gives three short blasts on its horn for luck.