13 February marks 7Ø Years of the Russian Antarctic Station Mirny (WAP RUS-Ø7)

On February 13, 1956, the first Russian Antarctic Research Station was opened on the Davis Sea coast marking the beginning of continuous scientific observations in Antarctica.
The station was named Mirny after one of the vessels of the Russian South Polar Expedition of 1819-21 under the leadership of F.F. Bellingshausen and M.P. Lazarev.

The expedition was led by the famous polar explorer and outstanding polar researcher, the head of the drifting station “North Pole-2”, Hero of the Soviet Union,  Mikhail Mikhailovich Somov. (pic aside)

During the first, second and third KAE (1955-1959), the stations Pionerskaya (WAP RUS-1Ø), Oasis, Vostok1 (WAP RUS-14), Komsomolskaya (WAP RUS-Ø5), Vostok (WAP RUS-13), Sovetskaya, and Pole of Inaccessibility were opened.

TNX UA6GG Oleg @ DX Trophy

To day, WAP does not have evidence of any Ham Radio activity from:
1) Oasis Station (https://www.waponline.it/bunger-oasis-station-wap-rus-new/) ,
2) Sovetskaya Station, (https://www.waponline.it/sovetskaya-research-station-wap-rus-new/ ) and
3) Pole of Inaccessibility Station (https://www.waponline.it/the-southern-pole-of-inaccessibility-camp-wap-rus-new/)  therefore,  these 3 Bases are still WAP RUS-NEW.

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In addition to the 7Øth Anniversary of Mirny Station, it is also interesting to know that, on Jan 5, 1956, the diesel-electric ship Ob carrying a team of Soviet scientists and polar explorers reached the Antarctic continent. From that day onward, large-scale national research in Antarctica began. The work of these pioneers is still carried forward today by the Russian Antarctic Expedition of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI).