site.btaSecond Group of 25th Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition Leaves for Livingston Island

Second Group of 25th Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition Leaves for Livingston Island

Sofia, December 11 (BTA) - The second group of the 25th Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition left Sofia for Livingston Island on Sunday, the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute said.

The group includes Mt Everest climbers Nikolai Petkov and Doichin Boyanov, photographer Nedelcho Hazurbassanov and geochemist Denitsa Apostolova.

The mountaineers are expected to carry out an ambitious programme: being the first human beings to set foot on several Antarctic peaks and, parallel to that, taking geodetic measurements at places missing from the topographic map.

Apostolova will join Spanish and Portuguese scientists for an international project exploring permafrost and rudimentary soil formation in the area.

For nearly two weeks now, the dozen or so members of the first group are demothballing the buildings and facilities at the Bulgarian St Kliment Ohridski Antarctic Base and are preparing the site for the normal conduct of the expedition. Base Commandant Yordan Yordanov reported that everybody are in good health and the planned activities are proceeding on schedule.