Ukrainian polar explorers laid a tunnel in several meters of snowdrifts: they dug for more than a week. PHOTO
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The 28th Ukrainian Antarctic expedition completed clearing the way to the second jetty berth. The tunnel was laid in several meter-high snowdrifts in a little more than a week.
According to the National Antarctic Science Center, Ukrainian polar explorers dig a passage to the second pier of the “jetty” every year. During the winter, it is well covered with snow, so at the end of the Antarctic spring or the beginning of summer, the whole expedition takes up shovels.
“Of course, they were a little more lucky than the previous expedition, because this year there were no record snowfalls in the “Vernadskyi” area: the highest height of the snow cover reached a little more than 2 meters (and last year – 3.5 meters). However, they still had to work hard, because in some places the height of snowdrifts was almost 5 meters!” – they say in the National Academy of Sciences.
The length of the tunnel reached about 40 meters, and the width – up to two. The team spent a little more than a week on the work. Each of the participants of the expedition cleaned the snow every day in the area assigned to him near the station.
| Photo: National Antarctic Science Center |
“Only the cook was not involved in the big digging, because he had another important mission – to feed colleagues deliciously and nutritiously after snow “gymnastics”. – they say in the expedition.
The polar explorers were preparing access to the pier, because in a few weeks, the arrival of the icebreaker “Noosphere” is expected at “Vernadskyi”, which will deliver cargo and a seasonal expedition. The tunnel will help to quickly unload the ship.
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| In some places, the height of snowdrifts was almost 5 meters |
In the NATS, they say that the pier “jetty” is used in the summer season, when the number of sea departures at the station increases significantly. It is convenient because it is protected from waves, you can park boats of various types near it and leave it for a certain time, instead of taking it out of the water every time.
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| Work on the tunnel lasted more than a week |
There is also another berth near the station called “slip”. Boats are stored near it and a powerful crane is installed to lift them ashore. This parking lot is used most of the time (as long as the ice situation allows), and access to it is always maintained, polar explorers explain.
It will be recalled that Ukrainian scientists have discovered a new species of leeches from the Antarctic.
Read also: Ukrainian polar explorers showed how penguins wait for babies to appear. VIDEO
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