site.btaBulgarian Antarctic Base Reopened for New Research Season

Bulgarian Antarctic Base Reopened for New Research Season

Livingston Island, Antarctica,November 22 (BTA) - The Bulgarian Antarctic Base on Livingston Island was reopened for the new polar research season, its Commander Yordan Yordanov told Head of Expedition Hristo Pimpirev on Sunday, speaking by satellite telephone from the icy continent.

A severe storm had stranded the first group of 10 Bulgarian scientists at Argentina's Carlini Base for three days, but eventually they boarded the Argentine ship Suboficial Castillo and sailed into the South Bay of Livingston Island.

They managed to get into the snow-buried buildings of Bulgaria's St Kliment Ohridski Base and start the generator, Pimpirev told BTA. Although the past winter was harsh, the structures are in good condition. The researchers are now putting their equipment into operating mode.

A second Bulgarian group will leave for Livingston Island on December 9, comprising Boris Stanimirov, MP of the Reformist Bloc, as well as cartographers. A third group will set out in the last days of December. It will consist mainly of young scientists who will study the ore-bearing potential of rocks and climate change together with Portuguese and Spanish colleagues.