Artur Chilingarov
Encyclopedia
Artur Nikolayevich Chilingarov is a Russia
n polar explorer. He is a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences
, was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union
in 1986 and the title Hero of the Russian Federation
in 2008. Chilingarov is also a member of State Duma
from Nenets Autonomous Okrug
(since 1993). Member of United Russia party.
He was born in Leningrad
. In 1963 he graduated from the Arctic faculty of the Leningrad Maritime Institute named after admiral S.O. Makarov
. As an engineer-oceanologer he was directed to Tiksi
observatory of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute. In 1965 he was elected first secretary of Bulun Komsomol
district committee.
In 1969 he was appointed head of the drift ice station “North Pole-19” and in 1971 Chilingarov headed the Bellingshausen Station
of the 17-th Soviet Antarctic Expedition
.
Between 1974 and 1979 he worked in the West sector of the Arctic
as head of the Amderma
Administration of hydrometeorology
and environment control. Under his direction new forms of Arctic operative navigation support were implemented; for the first time experimental works on cargo transfer to fast ice
during wintertime were carried out in Yamal Peninsula
. His experience in navigation support on the Northern Sea Route
Chilingarov summarized in his dissertation for the scientific degree of a kandidat
of geographical sciences.
In 1985 he headed the special expedition on research vessel Mikhail Somov, which was ice-blocked in the Southern Ocean
. For successful performance of salvation operations in extreme conditions and shown organizational abilities and courage Chilingarov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union
on February 14, 1986. In January 2007 He led a helicopter
expedition to Antarctica, joined by FSB chief Nikolay Patrushev, and visited the South Pole
and Amundsen-Scott station.
During the 2007 Russian North Pole expedition
, Chilingarov, accompanied by five other explorers from different countries, descended on 2 Mir submersibles
to the seabed 13,980 feet below the North Pole
in order to plant the Russian flag there and gather the specimens of the bottom ground. In regard to the territorial claims in the Arctic
, Chilingarov was quoted as saying, "The Arctic is Russian. We must prove the North Pole is an extension of the Russian landmass".
In July 2008, Russia announced it was sending Mir submersibles
to descend one mile to the bottom of Lake Baikal
, to conduct geological and biological tests on its unique ecosystem. Chilingarov is scheduled to join 60 dives in total. On July 29, 2008, Chilingarov took part in a dive to a depth of 1,580 meters in Lake Baikal, short of the record of 1,637 meters.
On January 10, 2008 Chilingarov was awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation
for "courage and heroism showed in extremal conditions and successful completion of High-Latitude Arctic Deep-Water Expedition."
In August, 2009 he revealed a planned Arctic expedition in April, 2010. Chilingarov plans to fly on dirigible
AU-30, manufactered by the Aeronautic Centre Avgur.
Chilingarov is the author of more than 50 scientific publications. He was elected into all the State Duma
s and served as Deputy Chairman of the Third State Duma.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n polar explorer. He is a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Academy of Sciences
The Russian Academy of Sciences consists of the national academy of Russia and a network of scientific research institutes from across the Russian Federation as well as auxiliary scientific and social units like libraries, publishers and hospitals....
, was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union
Hero of the Soviet Union
The title Hero of the Soviet Union was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded personally or collectively for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society.-Overview:...
in 1986 and the title Hero of the Russian Federation
Hero of the Russian Federation
Hero of the Russian Federation is a Russian decoration and the highest honorary title that can be bestowed on a citizen by the Russian Federation. The President of the Russian Federation is the main conferring authority of the medal, which is bestowed on those committing actions or deeds that...
in 2008. Chilingarov is also a member of State Duma
State Duma
The State Duma , common abbreviation: Госду́ма ) in the Russian Federation is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia , the upper house being the Federation Council of Russia. The Duma headquarters is located in central Moscow, a few steps from Manege Square. Its members are referred to...
from Nenets Autonomous Okrug
Nenets Autonomous Okrug
Nenets Autonomous Okrug is a federal subject of Russia .It has an area of 176,700 km2 and population of 42,628 as of the preliminary results of the 2010 Census , 21,296 of whom live in Naryan-Mar, the administrative center.-Geography and ecology:The arctic ecology of this...
(since 1993). Member of United Russia party.
He was born in Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
. In 1963 he graduated from the Arctic faculty of the Leningrad Maritime Institute named after admiral S.O. Makarov
Stepan Makarov
Stepan Osipovich Makarov was a Ukrainian - born Russian vice-admiral, a highly accomplished and decorated commander of the Imperial Russian Navy, an oceanographer, awarded by the Russian Academy of Sciences, and author of several books. Makarov also designed a small number of ships...
. As an engineer-oceanologer he was directed to Tiksi
Tiksi
Tiksi is an urban locality and the administrative center of Bulunsky District of the Sakha Republic, Russia, situated on the Arctic Ocean coast. Population: It is one of the principal ports for accessing the Laptev Sea...
observatory of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute. In 1965 he was elected first secretary of Bulun Komsomol
Komsomol
The Communist Union of Youth , usually known as Komsomol , was the youth division of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. The Komsomol in its earliest form was established in urban centers in 1918. During the early years, it was a Russian organization, known as the Russian Communist Union of...
district committee.
In 1969 he was appointed head of the drift ice station “North Pole-19” and in 1971 Chilingarov headed the Bellingshausen Station
Bellingshausen Station
thumb|right|Bellingshausen is one of Antarctica's most polluted places. Old vehicles, rusting barrels and other refuse litter the shorelinethumb|right|Muddy scene around the base. On the hilltop an orthodox church was built in 2004...
of the 17-th Soviet Antarctic Expedition
Soviet Antarctic Expedition
The Soviet Antarctic Expedition was part of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute of the Soviet Committee on Antarctic Research of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR....
.
Between 1974 and 1979 he worked in the West sector of the Arctic
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
as head of the Amderma
Amderma
Amderma is an urban-type settlement in Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Russia, located 490 km from Naryan-Mar on the coast of Kara Sea. It was established in 1933. Population: 650 ; 5,100 ; 2,900 . Fluorite deposits are located in the vicinity of Amderma, but the mines have been abandoned since...
Administration of hydrometeorology
Hydrometeorology
Hydrometeorology is a branch of meteorology and hydrology that studies the transfer of water and energy between the land surface and the lower atmosphere....
and environment control. Under his direction new forms of Arctic operative navigation support were implemented; for the first time experimental works on cargo transfer to fast ice
Fast ice
Fast ice is sea ice that has frozen along coasts along the shoals, or to the sea floor over shallow parts of the continental shelf, and extends out from land into sea. In Antarctica, fast ice may also extend between grounded icebergs...
during wintertime were carried out in Yamal Peninsula
Yamal Peninsula
The Yamal Peninsula , located in Yamal-Nenets autonomous district of northwest Siberia, Russia, extends roughly 700 km and is bordered principally by the Kara Sea, Baydaratskaya Bay on the west, and by the Gulf of Ob on the east...
. His experience in navigation support on the Northern Sea Route
Northern Sea Route
The Northern Sea Route is a shipping lane officially defined by Russian legislation from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean specifically running along the Russian Arctic coast from Murmansk on the Barents Sea, along Siberia, to the Bering Strait and Far East. The entire route lies in Arctic...
Chilingarov summarized in his dissertation for the scientific degree of a kandidat
Kandidat
The Candidate of Sciences degree is a first post-graduate scientific degree in some former Eastern Bloc countries, such as Russia and Ukraine, which is awarded for original research that constitutes a significant contribution to a scientific field. The degree was first introduced in the USSR on...
of geographical sciences.
In 1985 he headed the special expedition on research vessel Mikhail Somov, which was ice-blocked in the Southern Ocean
Southern Ocean
The Southern Ocean comprises the southernmost waters of the World Ocean, generally taken to be south of 60°S latitude and encircling Antarctica. It is usually regarded as the fourth-largest of the five principal oceanic divisions...
. For successful performance of salvation operations in extreme conditions and shown organizational abilities and courage Chilingarov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union
Hero of the Soviet Union
The title Hero of the Soviet Union was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded personally or collectively for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society.-Overview:...
on February 14, 1986. In January 2007 He led a helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
expedition to Antarctica, joined by FSB chief Nikolay Patrushev, and visited the South Pole
South Pole
The South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole or Terrestrial South Pole, is one of the two points where the Earth's axis of rotation intersects its surface. It is the southernmost point on the surface of the Earth and lies on the opposite side of the Earth from the North Pole...
and Amundsen-Scott station.
During the 2007 Russian North Pole expedition
Arktika 2007
Arktika 2007 was a 2007 expedition in which Russia performed the first ever crewed descent to the ocean bottom at the North Pole, as part of research related to the 2001 Russian territorial claim, one of many territorial claims in the Arctic, made possible, in part, because of Arctic shrinkage...
, Chilingarov, accompanied by five other explorers from different countries, descended on 2 Mir submersibles
MIR (submersible)
Mir is a self-propelled Deep Submergence Vehicle. The project was initially developed by the USSR Academy of Sciences along with Design Bureau Lazurith. Later two vehicles were ordered from Finland...
to the seabed 13,980 feet below the North Pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
in order to plant the Russian flag there and gather the specimens of the bottom ground. In regard to the territorial claims in the Arctic
Territorial claims in the Arctic
Under international law, no country currently owns the North Pole or the region of the Arctic Ocean surrounding it. The five surrounding Arctic states, Russia, the United States, Canada, Norway and Denmark , are limited to an exclusive economic zone of adjacent to their coasts.Upon ratification...
, Chilingarov was quoted as saying, "The Arctic is Russian. We must prove the North Pole is an extension of the Russian landmass".
In July 2008, Russia announced it was sending Mir submersibles
MIR (submersible)
Mir is a self-propelled Deep Submergence Vehicle. The project was initially developed by the USSR Academy of Sciences along with Design Bureau Lazurith. Later two vehicles were ordered from Finland...
to descend one mile to the bottom of Lake Baikal
Lake Baikal
Lake Baikal is the world's oldest at 30 million years old and deepest lake with an average depth of 744.4 metres.Located in the south of the Russian region of Siberia, between Irkutsk Oblast to the northwest and the Buryat Republic to the southeast, it is the most voluminous freshwater lake in the...
, to conduct geological and biological tests on its unique ecosystem. Chilingarov is scheduled to join 60 dives in total. On July 29, 2008, Chilingarov took part in a dive to a depth of 1,580 meters in Lake Baikal, short of the record of 1,637 meters.
On January 10, 2008 Chilingarov was awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation
Hero of the Russian Federation
Hero of the Russian Federation is a Russian decoration and the highest honorary title that can be bestowed on a citizen by the Russian Federation. The President of the Russian Federation is the main conferring authority of the medal, which is bestowed on those committing actions or deeds that...
for "courage and heroism showed in extremal conditions and successful completion of High-Latitude Arctic Deep-Water Expedition."
In August, 2009 he revealed a planned Arctic expedition in April, 2010. Chilingarov plans to fly on dirigible
Airship
An airship or dirigible is a type of aerostat or "lighter-than-air aircraft" that can be steered and propelled through the air using rudders and propellers or other thrust mechanisms...
AU-30, manufactered by the Aeronautic Centre Avgur.
Awards
- Hero of the Russian FederationHero of the Russian FederationHero of the Russian Federation is a Russian decoration and the highest honorary title that can be bestowed on a citizen by the Russian Federation. The President of the Russian Federation is the main conferring authority of the medal, which is bestowed on those committing actions or deeds that...
(January 9, 2008) - for courage and heroism displayed in extreme conditions, and the success of high-latitude Arctic expedition - Hero of the Soviet UnionHero of the Soviet UnionThe title Hero of the Soviet Union was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded personally or collectively for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society.-Overview:...
(February 14, 1986) - for exemplary performance targets for the release of the research vessel Mikhail Somov from the ice of Antarctica, leadership in rescue operations during the period of drift and displaying courage and heroism - Order of Merit for the FatherlandOrder of Merit for the FatherlandThe Order of Merit for the Fatherland was instituted on 2 March 1994 by Presidential Decree. The statutes describe it as a decoration for merit, not an order of knights....
, 3rd class (June 12, 2007) - for active participation in legislative activities and the success of high-latitude air expedition to South Pole - Order of Naval Merit (27 January 2003) - for outstanding contribution to research, development and use of the oceans
- Order of LeninOrder of LeninThe Order of Lenin , named after the leader of the Russian October Revolution, was the highest decoration bestowed by the Soviet Union...
- Order of the Red Banner of LabourOrder of the Red Banner of LabourThe Order of the Red Banner of Labour was an order of the Soviet Union for accomplishments in labour and civil service. It is the labour counterpart of the military Order of the Red Banner. A few institutions and factories, being the pride of Soviet Union, also received the order.-History:The Red...
- Order of the Badge of Honour
- Honoured meteorologist of the Russian Federation (11 February 2005)
- USSR State PrizeUSSR State PrizeThe USSR State Prize was the Soviet Union's state honour. It was established on September 9, 1966. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, the prize was followed up by the State Prize of the Russian Federation....
- for the development of methods of cargo handling on fast ice in Yamal - Order of Polar Star (Yakutia, 25 November 2002)
- Order of St. Mashtots (Armenia, September 17, 2008) - in connection with the 17th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia
- Commander of the Order of Bernardo O'HigginsOrder of Bernardo O'HigginsThe Order of Bernardo O'Higgins is the highest state award of Chile, presented to foreign citizens. This award was established in 1965 and named after one of the founders of the Chilean state general Bernardo O'Higgins who was the leader of the struggle for independence of the Spanish colonies in...
(Chile, 2006) - Order of Friendship (South Ossetia), (June 19, 2009) - for his great contribution to strengthening friendship and cooperation between peoples, actively promote the development of democracy and parliamentarianism in the Republic of South Ossetia and to provide practical assistance to its citizens in the implementation of voting rights
- Chevalier Legion of Honour (France, 2010)
- Medal of Anania Shirakatsi (Armenia, October 31, 2000) - for his contribution to the strengthening and development of Armenian-Russian friendship
- Order of St. Prince Daniil Moskovsky, 2nd class (Russian Orthodox Church, 2009) - in consideration of the works, for their active participation in the development of church life and in connection with the 70th anniversary of the birth
- Medal "Symbol of Science" (2007)
Chilingarov is the author of more than 50 scientific publications. He was elected into all the State Duma
State Duma
The State Duma , common abbreviation: Госду́ма ) in the Russian Federation is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia , the upper house being the Federation Council of Russia. The Duma headquarters is located in central Moscow, a few steps from Manege Square. Its members are referred to...
s and served as Deputy Chairman of the Third State Duma.