Soviet Antarctic stations. Collection of photographs.

N.p., [ca late 1960s?].
56 photos.

Wear to edges, tears, loss to one photo edge, expeditions stamps to verso of two photos. Five photographs mounted on cardboard.

This collection comprises photographs from the 12th (1966-1967) and 13th (1967-1968) Soviet Antarctic Expeditions. These missions introduced a new method for measuring the thickness of Antarctica's ice cap using radar and discovered deposits of coal and iron ore. In addition, the first Soviet station in West Antarctica, the Bellingshausen station, was inaugurated in February 1968 on King George Island of the South Shetland Islands.
The photos capture the daily life of polar explorers at the Molodyozhnaya and Novolazarevskaya stations, showcasing their research and construction activities as well as the diverse wildlife, including glaciers, fractured fast ice, and Adelie and Chinstrap penguins. Some images document ceremonial events like the line crossing ceremony and the ship's stops at ports in Africa.
It's likely that one of the photographs features Ivan Man, the captain of the diesel-powered ship Ob', which played a role in the First Soviet Antarctic expedition.