The staff of the 16th Belarusian Antarctic Expedition carried out a scientific trip to the little-explored coastal region of Antarctica, the Konovalov mountains. This was announced by the head of the 16th Belarusian Antarctic Expedition (16th BAE) Alexey Gaidashov.

The BAE hiking group consists of 5 people. The movement of the scientific campaign was carried out on 20–21.12.2023 on two transport units equipped with GPS navigation systems, satellite and VHF communications. During the movement of the scientific campaign, photo and video shooting was carried out, snow cover samples were taken, in manual mode, the reference points of the research route were fixed on the ground with reference markers with the state symbols of the Republic of Belarus.

According to the head of the 16th Belarusian Antarctic Expedition, the total length of the research route was 70 kilometers, the total area of testing and scientific research was about 80 square kilometers. The area of the natural object Konovalov mountains covered by detailed scientific research was about 10 square kilometers. During the survey of the natural object, research routes and topogeodesic mapping of the area were carried out, a series of measurements of various parameters of the Antarctic natural environment were carried out, samples and specimens of natural materials were taken, the geochemical, geoecological, geocryological and hydrological situation of the studied natural object was assessed.

As Alexey Gaidashov reported, "The preliminary results of comprehensive scientific research in the Konovalov mountains provide prerequisites for evaluating this area as a promising area of scientific interest for the Republic of Belarus.

During the two-day scientific campaign, there were no breakdowns of machines, devices and equipment, and there were no safety violations. Scientific samples and specimens, materials and results of scientific research have been delivered to the Belarusian Antarctic station Vechernyaya Mountain in full and will be transferred to the NAS of Belarus for analysis and study."

The head of the 16th Belarusian Antarctic Expedition stressed that the successful conduct of the scientific campaign was facilitated by the well-coordinated teamwork of the scientific and technical staff of the 16th BAE, the necessary range and reliable operation of the technical means and scientific equipment available to BAE developed by institutes of the NAS of Belarus and other Belarusian organizations.