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Bellingshausen Station is a Russian Antarctic station on King George Island of the South Shetland Islands. It was one of the first research stations founded by the Soviet Antarctic Expedition in 1968.
Dmitry Malov
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Fabian (Faddey) von Bellingshausen was an officer in the Imperial Russian Navy, cartographer and explorer, who, alongside with captain Mikhail Lazarev, discovered the continent of Antarctica in 1820.
Dmitry Malov
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Bellingshausen Station is also the location of Trinity Church, the only permanently staffed Eastern Orthodox church in Antarctica. The church is a 15m-high wooden structure built in traditional Russian style. It can accommodate up to 30 worshippers.
Dmitry Malov
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The church is manned year-round by one or two Orthodox priests, who are hieromonks of Troitse-Sergiyeva Lavra volunteering for the Antarctic assignment. Similarly to the personnel of most year-round Antarctic stations, the priests are rotated annually by the Lavra.
Dmitry Malov
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When scientists first came to the Russian station in 1968, 11 people stayed here for the winter. Now 23 people spend the winter at the base each year.
Dmitry Malov
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Scientists from Russia can go to spend the winter in the Antarctic through the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute by applying to do research in Antarctic biology or glaciology.
Dmitry Malov
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Glaciologists often come here in an attempt to find out whether the Antarctic ice cap is melting or, conversely, whether it’s getting bigger.
Dmitry Malov
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Freight and scientific staff are delivered once every two years by the Akademik Fyodorov, and the rest of the time via Chile’s Teniente R Marsh international airport.
Dmitry Malov
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Bellingshausen Station made an apperance during an episode of Syfy's "Destination Truth" when Josh Gates and his team visited the station. They interviewed the scientists and were given a tour of the base.
Dmitry Malov
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Russian polar residents have nicknamed the Bellingshausen Station "kurort", which means "resort". Indeed, the Antarctic Peninsula and its nearby islands are considered to have the mildest living conditions in Antarctica.
Dmitry Malov
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There is a hotel here, which is accessible for foreign tourists. Usually they pay not with cash, but with fresh fruits and vegetables. These are more important here than money.
Dmitry Malov
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The station is connected by unimproved roads to the nearby stations: Chilean Base Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva, Chinese Great Wall Station, and Uruguayan Artigas Base.
Dmitry Malov
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Next to the station lies a specially protected site – Ardley Island.
Dmitry Malov
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Giant petrels – beautiful dark birds with extremely long, narrow wings – nest here all year round, sharing the island with a large number of penguins. It is mainly ornithologists who visit Ardley Island – for other people travel to the island is strictly limited.
Dmitry Malov
