Magnitogorsk Travelers Started the Expedition on Snowmobiles

Photo is provided by participants of the expedition
Photo is provided by participants of the expedition

The expedition on "The Northern Path - 2019" snowmobiles started from Murmansk on January 11. For three months, the group intends to go on snowmobiles from the Murmansk region to Kamchatka across the entire Russian Arctic. These are eight regions, the total length of the route is 17 thousand kilometers.

The expedition leader Alexander Tabakov told the RGS press service, that the route will pass through Arkhangelsk, the region of Naryan-Mar, Salekhard, then Dikson, north Taimyr, Chelyuskin Cape, Khatanga, Tiksi, Pevek, Uelen, Anadyr and further to Kamchatka. There, under favorable weather conditions, participants will try to reach Lopatka Cape - the southernmost point of Kamchatka.

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Photo is provided by participants of the expedition
Photo is provided by participants of the expedition

"The Northern Path - 2019" was supported by the Russian Geographical Society and Lomonosov Moscow State University. The team included residents of Magnitogorsk Alexander Tabakov, Gennady Chernukha, Yevgeny Berdnikov. All of them are experienced travelers who have made long journeys.

It is worth to mention that this is not the first expedition of that kind, but the first one of such a long route. The group outlined its "northern path" back in 2013. Then the length of the route was 11.6 kilometers. For four months travelers explored historical and geographical landmarks from Murmansk to Chukotka.

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Photo is provided by participants of the expedition
Photo is provided by participants of the expedition

The head of the expedition is going to correct shortcomings of the previous expedition. Such as, for example, an attempt to "fight" with the elements. This time it is decided to wait in a case of bad weather. Most of the participants cargo is gasoline and spare parts for snowmobiles: the route is laid far from civilization. Also, participants have a tent, but they say that they will use it only in extreme cases. Also, travelers took a rocket launcher to scare away polar bears.

The main task of the expedition is popularization of the Arctic and the Russian North. Its members are planning to post diaries of the expedition, as well as photos and videos on Facebook. In the future, the project may turn into a regular trans-Russian snowmobile run.

The first stop of travelers is the Karelian Paanajarvi National Park.

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Photo is provided by participants of the expedition
Photo is provided by participants of the expedition