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Alexandr Oboimov
Meet Alexandr Oboimov, the head of several Russian a scientific-research expeditions to the Arctic. “From early childhood I was drawn to the Arctic: the trip there is a long and difficult journey from Archangelsk to Chukotka (6.5 hours by plane, a distance of 3004 miles) and back. We visit deserted islands along the way. ”
Wikipedia
Franz Josef Land is also known as “Little Russian Arctic”. It consists of 191 islands, where the conditions are very harsh. Until the 1920s this land was international. It hosted expeditions from all over the world.
Alexandr Oboimov
Oboimov has visited every archipelago of the Russian Arctic, but not every single island. His dream is to tread on all 191 of them.
Alexandr Oboimov
In 1929, in Silent (Tikhaya) Bay, the first Russian polar stationary scientific station was opened, after which Franz Josef Land was internationally recognized as a Russian territory.
Alexandr Oboimov
The water here is crystal-clear. In summer, in the southern part of the archipelago, it rises to +0.5 C. The average summer temperature ranges from 0 C to -1.4 C.
Alexandr Oboimov
In Soviet times research stations operated here, and there was even a special troop detachment based at a purpose-built ice aerodrome. Now the territory and most of the facilities are abandoned, and only one station is still working — the Ernst Krenkel Observatory, named after the Soviet Arctic explorer, on Heiss Island. The other islands are visited only by tourist groups. The photo shows the wreckage of a plane that was never salvaged.
Alexandr Oboimov
“This is Champ Island, rather famous for a special mystery. We could not miss the opportunity to see this miracle. At first glance, the island is not noticeable at all. But as soon as we stepped on it, we saw that there are lots of huge perfectly round stones. Their origin is still the subject of debate.” says Oboimov
Alexandr Oboimov
Near the shore of Champ Island.
Alexandr Oboimov
The most interesting animals here are polar bears and walruses.
Alexandr Oboimov
They are disappearing species and protected by the government.
Alexandr Oboimov
Polar bears are not the same as brown bears. They do not hibernate in winter. Male polar bears continue hunting the whole winter.
Alexandr Oboimov
The Arctic midnight sun.
Alexandr Oboimov
“During the expedition we visited a lot of places and travelled thousands of miles. Franz Josef Land is something special. Anyone who’s had a chance to see this wonderful land — its dikes like the back of a dragon, incredible bays and headlands — will fall in love with it forever,” concludes Oboimov.
