Vinson is an array of Antarctica. Description, photo

Covered with eternal ice and at first sight so impenetrable, the sixth continent of the planet was discovered by the very last. Despite the fact that James Cook first crossed the South Polar Circle back in January 1773, Antarctica has not yet been fully studied.

Here, as on any other continent, there are "oases" with vegetation, the ocean and even the Vinson mountain range (coordinates 78.5833 ° S, 85.4167 ° W).

History of Antarctica

As an independent continent, it was discovered in 1820 by Thaddeus Bellingshausen, ahead of two other polar explorers - Nathaniel Palmer for 10 months and Edward Bransfield for 3 days.

Bellingshausen with his associate Mikhail Lazarev did not reach Antarctica only 32 km. The first person to set foot on this land is John Davies, who arrived on the continent on 7.02.1821. The first research expedition was organized by the United States Navy in 1839. It was announced that it had discovered Antarctica to the west of the Balleny Islands, and the land site found by its participants was later named the Wilkes Land in honor of the expedition leader. The next polar explorer James Clark Ross in 1841 opened an island that received his name.

More attention to Antarctica and its study was given in the 20th century. The century began with the conquest of the South Pole by Rual Amundsen in 1911. In 1912, his example was followed by Robert Scott, whose expedition was completely lost on the way back to the Great Earth.

In 1928, the first flight to Antarctica by the pilot George Hubert Wilkins was made, which was considered a real feat, considering the level of aviation development in that period. A stranger record haunted many aviators, but only Richard Byrd managed to fly over the South Pole the following year.

In the postwar years, a full-scale expedition was founded and conducted again by the Americans from 1945 to 1957, as a result of which the largest station-settlement of McMurdo was founded. Soviet polar explorers founded the first settlement of Mirny in 1956 with the help of the crews of two ships - Ob and Lena. Gradually, thanks to scientists from different countries living and working in the harsh conditions of permafrost, it was possible to open and fix on the map new bays, islands and capes of the cold continent. For example, the mountains of Antarctica were supposed to be only theoretically until the middle of the 20th century. The proof of their existence was presented in 1958, when they were discovered by a pilot making his flight across the mainland.

These courageous people compiled a complete description of Antarctica, included in the textbooks of geography and the scientific works of modern polar explorers.

Features of Antarctica

This continent occupies an area of 13,975 thousand km ² , part of which is ice shelf. There are no permanent inhabitants, not only because the harsh climate suits only penguins, but also because it is the only continent that does not belong to any countries, but is the property of all mankind.

According to the agreement, signed in 1961 by the leading countries, all terrestrial space located south of 60 degrees south. Is free from the placement of any type of weapon and is suitable solely for scientific research. Although Antarctica is rich in minerals, their extraction is also prohibited.

It is the highest continent on the planet, on average it rises to 2,040 meters above sea level, and at its highest point - Vinson (Massif in the Mount Elsworth) reaches 4,892 meters.

At this point 99% of the ice cover, and only a small part of the space belongs to "oases", on which grow mosses, ferns, lichens and fungi. Here live penguins and seals.

No one can withstand winter cold to -89 degrees (in the eastern part of the mainland near the Russian station "Vostok"). The average temperature in the winter months in the rest of the territory reaches -70 degrees, and the summer temperature ranges from -30 to -50. The coast is almost a "resort", since the temperature in winter ranges from -8 to -35 degrees, while in summer it ranges from 0 to +5. The description of Antarctica with its hurricane winds and frosts represents the continent a place extremely inhospitable for travelers.

The Greatest Peaks of the World: Everest and Aconcagua

The mountains of the planet are not only its greatness and beauty, but also the history of the formation of continents. On earth there are 6 continents and 7 greatest peaks that were conquered, each in its time, brave, whose courage inspires people to repeat their feat.

The highest mountain in the world - Mount Everest (Asia), towers above the sea level at 8848 m. Its conquest is like an exam for fitness for mountaineers. Beginners do not conquer it, even experienced climbers are at risk of dying, so this mountain is severe and unassailable.

About 50 times expeditions from different countries tried to ascend to a dangerous summit, but it was possible on May 29, 1953, New Zealand's Edmund Hillary. After him, Everest was conquered from various sides by not only men, but also women, the first of whom was a Japanese mountaineer in 1976.

Aconcagua is the highest extinct volcano in the world, located in South America. The height of this Argentine "high-rise" is 6962 meters. The mountain arose in connection with the collision of two tectonic plates - Nazca and South American. One can only guess what cataclysms accompanied such a grandiose process millions of years ago. This peak is suitable for training beginners, since it is not considered difficult from a mountaineer point of view. He was conquered even by children.

McKinley Mountain

The seven peaks of the world are the greatest mountains, which are the highest on one of the continents of the planet. McKinley - the highest point of Alaska, rising above the earth at 6194 m. At one time it was the highest peak of the Russian Empire, which was called plain - the Big Mountain. After the sale of this territory to America, it is the largest in North America.

From 1917 to 2015, the mountain bore the name of one of the US presidents - McKinley, but it was returned to the original name Denali, which in translation from the language of Athabasca (Indian tribe) meant the Great Summit. It was first conquered in 1906 by Frederick Cook, who was soon accused of falsifying this ascent. Until today , mountaineers are arguing whether there was such an ancient ascent.

Kilimanjaro

The famous African mountain is also included in the category "Seven peaks of the world". Located in Tanzania, it makes an indelible impression on all travelers. It was amazing to see her snow cap in the middle of the hot savannah, but today many scientists sound alarm because the age-old ice melts inexorably due to the changed climate.

Mount Kilimanjaro, previously adorned with its snow-white top of the neighborhood, today lost 80% of its ice cover. For the first time these 5895 meters above sea level were conquered by Hans Meyer in the distant 1889. For a beginner equipped with modern climbing equipment, this peak is not difficult, although climbing usually lasts longer due to problems with acclimatization.

Elbrus

This mountain is familiar even to those who have nothing to do with mountaineering. This is the highest peak in Europe. It is located on the border between Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachaevo-Cherkessia. It is a mountain system in the Main Caucasian Range. For the first time its height in 5642 m conquered the Russian scientific expedition in 1829. It included a physicist, zoologist, botanist, traveler and artist who not only climbed, but also sketched and studied the vegetation and structure of the mountain.

Today there is a well-developed tourist infrastructure with basic adaptation camps, and the mountain itself is a place of pilgrimage not only for climbers, but also for amateur climbers who have not conquered yet a single peak.

In addition to the conquerors of the peaks, Elbrus attracts skiers for whom routes of varying complexity are organized here and slalom competitions are held annually. Well-organized infrastructure puts open tourist bases here on one level with European ski resorts.

Punchak Jaya

Australia also has its own mountain system, the highest point of which is the peak Punchak-Jaya (4884 m). Mount Jaya is famous for being the highest of the located on the island. Some scientists claim that the largest point of Oceania is 5030 m high.

For the whole world, the mountain was discovered by the Dutchman Jan Karstens in 1623. This researcher was ridiculed by the learned community for claiming to have seen a glacier in the tropics at the equator. Later grief was given his name, which lasted until 1965.

Although it happened so long ago, it was first conquered by Austrian mountaineers in 1962. The returned original name in the Indonesian language sounds like the Peak of Victory.

Vinson array

The mountains of Antarctica are a continuous cover of ice. Perhaps that's why they could not be discovered so long, but only theoretically calculated that they are on this continent. It is ice that is the biggest obstacle to climbing.

Their highest point is Vinson - an array of 21 km long and 13 km wide. It takes real courage and professionalism to conquer such a difficult peak. The first measurement of the Antarctic mountains was made incorrectly (5140 m). It was only in 1980 when a Soviet mountaineer climbed to Vinson (array) and installed a flag there. The result of their measurement was 4892 meters.

Conquest of the Ice Mountains

If you look at the Vinson array on the map, you can see that the distance from the South Pole is only 1200 km. Those who visited the summit say that it offers a stunningly beautiful view of the ice, lit by the bright sun.

It is not only the largest glacier in the world, but also the most difficult mountain to conquer. The Vinson array is submerged for half a year on a polar night, so the "summer" time from November to January is suitable for conquest, when the temperature rises to 30 degrees below zero. In summer the sky above the summit is completely cloudless and the sun shines round the clock.

Despite some warming of the air, climbing is often hampered by strong winds and melting ice from the hot sun.

Antarctica today

Today in Antarctica there are 37 scientific stations from different countries. Scientists are studying the state of ice, changes in its chemical composition and the intensity of melting. Biologists and zoologists study biological species that can survive in the harsh conditions of permafrost.

In addition to scientific expeditions, travel agencies for the brave are organized tours of extreme climbing to Vinson. The array has become quite popular route and is very popular among climbers.