The MIR-1 has successfully reached the depth of 4,261 meters

Photo: Aleksej Nagaev ©

Today at 12.08 pm the deep water manned the vehicle MIR-1 took the bottom at the North Pole point. It descended in the Arctic Ocean to the depth of 4,261 meters. Diving position: 0 grades 0 minutes 97 centiseconds north latitude, 0 grades 0 minutes 18 centiseconds east longitude. “The bottom is yellow, no unevenness”, - reported the bathyscaphe. One member of the MIR-1 crew holds the Russian flag to set it at the point of the North Pole.

At the moment the second manned bathyscaphe MIR-2 is descending at 3,600 meters depth. We caught a report by the Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation on issues of the Third International Polar Year from MIR-1: “Dear friends! This event has the great value for all staying aboard the Akademik Fedorov, Russia ice-breaker, and all the citizens of Russia, all who helped to realize this expedition”. Arthur Chilingarov congratulated the crew and all Russians and reported they will set the Russian flag on the Arctic ocean floor at the North Pole point. Hurray!

Natalia Yurchenko by phone.
Press secretary of Director General of MVK International Exhibition Holding Akademik Fedorov research ship, the Arctic Ocean, the North Pole

*** We remind everyone that on July 10th, Akademik Fedorov – the flagman of the Russian scientific-polar fleet – departed the port of St. Petersburg for Arktika’2007 expedition. During the first stage of the voyage the scientists will realize an unprecedented High-latitude deep water arctic expedition.

The MVK International Exhibition Holding is a media partner of the Arctic’2007expedition. The MVK’ expedition goal is the development of the Polar Museum exhibition, which was for the first time ever opened at the North Pole. The North Pole: New Opportunities in Life and Business project is led by Alexey Shaburov. He remarked: “We clearly see the significance of this event for the country, for the development and exploration of the polar regions. We have created a museum dedicated to Papanintsy. Our mission today is to keep on through generations the history and the feat of modern hero-polar explorers.”