A new series of postage products with a geographical theme has been issued by “Marka” JSC, which publishes and distributes philatelic products. One of the cards is dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the ALSIB air route and the expedition of the Russian Geographical Society and the Russian Ministry of Defense along the airfields of the heroic route.
The construction of airfields for the Alaska-Siberia air route began in 1942. During the Great Patriotic War, according to the Lend-Lease agreement, aircraft were transported from the USA to the Soviet Union along it. The legendary ALSIB worked for about four years. During this time, along the difficult 6,500-kilometer route – from Fairbanks to Krasnoyarsk – the heroic pilots delivered to the USSR more than 8,000 military and transport vehicles, about 130,000 passengers and thousands of tons of cargo for various purposes.
In the summer of 2021, the first stage of the expedition of the Russian Geographical Society during which ALSIB airfields had been surveyed was completed. The participants in the field work managed to identify unique buildings from the Great Patriotic War, which are of great historical interest and require decisions on their conservation. Also found was the equipment supplied under the Lend-Lease and suitable for display in museums. One of the most important outcomes of the expedition was the collection of data on the lost aircraft, on the basis of which it is possible to organize the second stage in 2022.
Another postcard issued by "Marka" JSC is dedicated to the Russian botanist, popularizer of science and initiator of the Russian environmental movement Ivan Borodin (1847–1930). In 1876, for his dissertation "Physiological research on the respiration of leaf shoots," he received a master's degree in botany. The discovery of crystallizing chlorophyll, which played a big role in the study of this substance, also belongs to the scientist.
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In 1873, Borodin initiated the study of flavonoids in Russia. Over the years, he was a professor and lectured on botany at the St. Petersburg Medical and Surgical Academy, the Forestry Institute, Novorossiysk and St. Petersburg Universities. Since 1887 was a corresponding member, and since 1902 an academician at the Imperial Academy of Sciences of St. Petersburg. Since 1902 was the director of the Botanical Museum of the Academy of Sciences.
Borodin was repeatedly promoting the idea of organizing nature conservation. In 1912, with his active participation, the Standing Environmental Commission of the Russian Geographical Society was created. In 1915, at the initiative of the scientist, the Russian Botanical Society was founded, of which he remained the permanent president until the end of his life.
On the main illustration of the card there is a portrait of Borodin against the background of the covers of publications of his works and the logo of the Russian Geographical Society. On the original stamp there are images symbolically reflecting geographical projects. Illustrative material provided by the Russian Geographical Society.
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A postal envelope was also issued for the 225th birthday anniversary of one of the founders of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society, Admiral Ferdinand Wrangel (1797–1870). An outstanding military man and statesman, navigator and polar explorer was elected Chairman of the Department of General Geography of the RGS.