Antarctica, the southernmost continent, It can rightly be considered one of the largest geographical discoveries, committed by Russian sailors. Today, Antarctica - the territory of international importance, It does not belong to any country, but it has attracted considerable interest once in a number of states. But two centuries ago, the very existence of the southern continent was unknown. AT 2020 year we will celebrate 200 years since, as the Russian sailors Thaddeus Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev has been opened south coldest continent.
The expedition to the mysterious continent
Before traveling Bellingshausen and Lazarev about the existence of the sixth continent there were various rumors, but no to Russian sailors could not prove its reality. James Cook, which is first tried to reach in the cold sea southern, He did not deny the existence of the sixth continent, but thought, that it is impossible to get out of the ice, preventing the movement of ships.
One of the main initiators of the study far southern seas was Ivan Kruzenshtern - navigator, the commander of the first Russian world expedition. It was he who sent 31 Martha 1819 Year letter to the Secretary of the Navy Russia with a proposal to outfit an expedition to the distant southern sea ice. In his letter he emphasized Kruzenshtern, that delay the expedition can not be, because if Russia does not seize the chance, then they will take advantage of England or France. In the end,, authorities gave the green light to expedition equipment. At Okhta shipyard built the sloop "East", at a shipyard in Lodeynoye Pole - "Peaceful". 4 July 1819 , the sloops "Vostok" and "Peace" came from the port of Kronstadt and, surpassing Europe, We headed south - to distant and unexplored seas.
Commanded the expedition of Captain 2nd Rank Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen - participant of the first Russian world expedition of Ivan Kruzenshtern. He was an experienced naval officer, which at the time of the expedition was already 41 year. Behind the Bellingshausen was a long service in the Navy - study in the Sea Cadet Corps, participated in numerous voyages of Russian ships, including travel Kruzenshtern. FROM 1817 by 1819 gg. Captain 2nd Rank Bellingshausen commanded the frigate "Flora". The expedition he was to combine the duties of the commander of the expedition and the commander of the sloop "East".
Sloop "Mirny" commanded by Mikhail Petrovich Lazarev - the future admiral and distinguished naval commander, and then - 31-year-old officer, which one, however, It was also a great experience long hikes. So, at 1813 year, 25-year-old lieutenant Mikhail Lazarev commanded the frigate "Suvorov", Send circumnavigation. probably, because Lazarev already had the experience of self-world trip, and entrusted him to command the sloop "Mirny", being and deputy commanders of the Bellingshausen expedition.
29 December 1819 , the ships arrived in the area of the beginning of research. Here Russian travelers were able to establish, that territory, James Cook who looked like capes, They are in fact separate islands. Then Russian sailors started to perform the main task - the maximum promotion to the south. Five times during the January - March 1820 the expedition crossed the Antarctic Circle.
28 January sloops "Vostok" and "Mirny" approached the shore covered with ice, but to approach it turned out to be an impossible task. Then the expedition moved around the entire continent, open and poised to map dozens of new islands. On the way back Russian ships also continued opening, sailors collected unique and natural science ethnographic materials, sketched lived in the Antarctic animals and birds. So, for the first time in the history of mankind, able to obtain information on the southernmost continent, although the true study of Antarctica, its geography and nature, It was yet to come.
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24 July 1821 , the sloops "Vostok" and "Peace" arrived in Kronstadt. More than two years it took Russian sailors on a journey to the shores of the distant continent. of course, It was quite a feat, and one of the great geographical discoveries in the history of exploration of the Earth. But while Russia has not taken advantage of the discoverer of Antarctica - was not the resource potential for the development of the icy continent, even for fixing any special rights to it on the part of the Russian state.
Russia can not be without in Antarctica
Meanwhile, on the right opening of Antarctica might well be declared part of the Russian Empire, and now our country would have had every reason not only for research activities on the continent, but also for the exploration and production of natural resources in Antarctica. After all, in these days, when resource demand grows, and their number is reduced, It is approaching and the "Battle of Antarctica".
While the US and some other countries had their eye on the Northern Sea Route, on arctic expanses, trying to mark its presence in the Arctic and to limit the rights of Russia to the Far North. But to accomplish this task the Americans and others are unlikely to succeed with them due to the fact, that the Arctic is actually adjacent to the Russian coast. It is quite another thing - the most distant from the Russian Antarctica, special rights with respect to which claims a number of states - the US and the UK to Chile and New Zealand.
The question was raised in the Soviet times, that our country's opinion should not be ignored by other countries in dealing with the present and future of the sixth continent. Yet 10 February 1949 year with a report "Russian discoveries in the Antarctic", the President of the Geographical Society of the USSR Academician Lev Berg.
Since that time, the Soviet Union took an unequivocal and uncompromising position - the interests and position of the country should be taken into account during the development of the Antarctic, since Russian explorers made an enormous contribution to the opening of the sixth continent.
whose it, Antarctica?
As pointed out by a lawyer Ilya Reiser, a long time has been studying Russian rights in the Arctic and Antarctic, Antarctica, certainly, It should belong to all mankind. But it is impossible to challenge the, that Russia is indeed played a key role in the discovery of the southernmost continent.
- Regarding the right of "first night" Antarctica is still an ongoing debate. Who is right?
- The Anglo-Saxon world, primarily in the UK and the US, Antarctica is considered the discoverer of the famous Captain James Cook. It was his first ships reached the southern seas, but he refused to go on Cook, as the ice is considered impassable. In this way, the discoverer of Antarctica, it can be considered a very big stretch, rather it is so in reality is not. It is quite another thing - our seafarers. We know, what in 1820 , the sloops "Vostok" and "Mirny" commanded by Russian officers Thaddeus Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev sailed around Antarctica, after which it has been proved, that this land - a separate continent, and not part of America or Australia. So the real pioneers of the southern continent - Russian sailors.
- However, a number of countries lay claim to the continent?
- Yes. In the early twentieth century about their specific rights to the said Antarctic UK. London argued this proximity to the mainland of the Falkland Islands, under British jurisdiction. AT 1917 the UK announced British Crown ownership of territory between 20 and 80 degrees west longitude. Then Australia was joined Australian Antarctic Territory, and to New Zealand - the territory of Russia. Queen Maud Land was ceded to Norway, Terre Adélie - to France. They put forward their claims of Chile and Argentina as the next-door neighbors in Antarctica. Of course, a very important role in the development of the Antarctic play US, They also assert their claims. AND, finally, in recent years, growing interest of China to the southern continent.
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Our country has played a very positive role in resolving the situation in Antarctica. It was at the suggestion of the Soviet Union were suspended for an indefinite period of territorial claims. AT 1959 , the international Antarctic Treaty was signed. She recognized demilitarized zone, free of nuclear weapons. Existing in the Antarctic bases of the various states have only research authority, not being the territories of these countries. It is also prohibited in Antarctica exploitation of natural resources. But the moratorium on mining temporary - up 2048 of the year. And the battle for Antarctic resources the world can not be avoided. The contract is updated once a 50 years and it is possible, that forty years later, some changes will be made to it.
Russia and the "Battle of Antarctica"
With our interlocutor is difficult to disagree. Really, just in time for the middle - the second half of the XXI century, the world will inevitably face a lack of resources and are rich possibilities of the sixth continent, will be most welcome. for example, According to the geologists, oil can reach Antarctic 200 billion barrels of. It is no accident today in Antarctica are trying to "go" all, and sundry - from Norwegian to Chinese. Even countries such as the Republic of Korea, Turkey or Saudi Arabia, which had no relation to the discovery and study of Antarctica, They are now trying to identify its presence there, declare their interests in the Antarctic area.
Most active in Antarctica China, which has a number of research stations, equipped with the latest technology. In Beijing on Antarctic studies are not stingy, a Chinese map of Antarctica abound with names like "Confucius peak". by the way, Chinese icebreakers built not only for the Northern Sea Route, but for the Antarctic expeditions. for example, the famous "Snow Dragon" already visited Antarctica. At one of the stations of the Chinese even hung "speaking" poster with the text "Welcome to China!».
Even if the Saudis, Turks and Koreans, not to mention China, preoccupied by the future of the sixth continent, our country simply has to like its rights in Antarctica can be more clearly denote. Russia in any case should not miss the chance, which the, in addition, It is also the epitome of historical justice. But what needs to be done for this?
At first, must be at the legislative level to emphasize the role of Russia in the development of the Antarctic. Reasons for this are - even the "hot heads" abroad can not deny the contribution of the Bellingshausen expedition - Lazarev in the development of the southern continent. Russia should designate not claim for certain special rights to Antarctica, because, in accordance with international agreements, no State can claim to control over the Antarctic, and their inalienable right to resolve all important issues of studying the sixth continent, the likelihood of exploitation of its natural resources in the future (Now this operation, according to the Antarctic Treaty, moratorium).
Secondly, you must indicate its presence more active in Antarctica physically. expeditions, research stations should be as much as possible, they should be numerous, focused on the in-depth study.
To realize this goal should not spare financial resources, as Antarctica could bring far greater profits in the future. But, Unfortunately, until we see the opposite trend - the number of Antarctic stations is reduced, primarily due to lack of funding.
It is not excluded, that sooner or later the question will arise, and the military security of the Russian interests in Antarctica. Antarctica is now officially a demilitarized zone, free of weapons and to remain neutral. But whether this situation will continue in the future, especially in the second half of the XXI century, when the current agreement on Antarctica may be revised? In the Arctic,, for example, Russia is ready to defend its interests in various ways and means - from legal disputes to the armed defense.
Ilya Polonsky
