In the period from January 18 to January 21, 2024, members of the 16th Belarusian Antarctic Expedition carried out a multi-day scientific hike to a remote unexplored area of the Antarctic mainland with the Nai mountain range located on it and the adjacent chain of other mountain ranges (Raggatt, Scott, Naki, Dismad, Napier) with a total area of about 35 thousand square kilometers. The total duration of the scientific campaign was 4 days, the length of the research route was 570 kilometers, the area of testing, reconnaissance and scientific research was about 1,050 square kilometers. This was announced by the head of the 16th Belarusian Antarctic Expedition (16th BAE) Alexey Gaidashov.
"Snow cover samples were taken along the route of the avant-garde group, before crossing the Rainer glacier and crossing potential risk zones, preliminary reconnaissance of the route was carried out using an unmanned aerial vehicle, electronic recording of the reference points of the GPS track of the research route was conducted, in manual mode, the reference points of the new research route were fixed on the ground with reference markers with the state symbols of the Republic of Belarus.
During the passage of the new research route, the avant-garde BAE group (Alexey Gaidashov, Yegor Korzun, Vitaly Khilko) reached on the Beaver snow and swamp-going vehicle the final (planned) point of the route at the base of Marriner mountain in the Nai mountain range, located at the coordinates of the highest point: S68.249711 E048.994220. Upon arrival at the final (planned) point of the route, a comprehensive reconnaissance survey of the area was conducted, samples and specimens of natural materials were taken, as well as various components of the natural environment of the Antarctic region under study were tested," Alexey Gaidashov informed.
According to Alexey Gaidashov, upon completion of the planned program of reconnaissance studies of the Nai mountain range, the participants of the avant-garde BAE group carried out a symbolic raising of the national flag of the Republic of Belarus and the flag of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus at the field camp at the foot of Marriner mountain, and also installed a reference marker with the state symbols of the Republic of Belarus.
Simultaneously with the passage of the main research route by the avant-garde group to the Nai mountain range, BAE employees conducted comprehensive scientific research at the base camp near the DSF mountain range, took samples and specimens of natural materials, as well as carried out approbation of various components of the natural environment of the Antarctic region under study.
During the multi-day scientific campaign, the personnel of 16 BAE and the RAE employees who took part showed high stamina and professionalism, demonstrated responsibility for the assigned task, discipline and well-coordinated teamwork. There were no breakdowns of BAE machines, failures in the operation of devices and equipment, there were no safety violations, and the personnel were healthy. Scientific samples and specimens, materials and results of scientific research were delivered to the field base of the 16th BAE Vechernaya Mountain in full.
The multi-day scientific campaign provided replenishment of the scientific knowledge base with new data on the natural environment of Antarctica, allowed to lay a safe route to the remote unexplored mountainous region of Antarctica, which opens up new prospects for further expansion of the geography of scientific and practical interests of the Republic of Belarus in Antarctica.
The personnel of 16 BAE continue to implement scientific programs, technical work plans and environmental measures approved by the NAS of Belarus.
