St. Kliment Ohridski Base
Encyclopedia
St. Kliment Ohridski Base is a Bulgaria
n Antarctic
base on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands
.
The base, originally known as Sofia University Refuge, was named in 1993 "for St. Kliment of Ohrid (840-916), prominent Bulgarian scholar."
, 130 m inland from the shore of Emona Anchorage
, between Pesyakov Hill
and Sinemorets Hill
, overlooking the Grand Lagoon
. The base area is crossed by the melt-water Rezovski Creek
in the summer, providing a water supply.
, two prefabricated huts were assembled on Livingston Island between 26 and 29 April 1988 by a four-member Bulgarian party supported logistically by the Soviet
Research Ship Mikhail Somov. The facilities were later refurbished and inaugurated as a permanent base on 11 December 1993.
An expansion programme at St. Kliment Ohridski including the construction of a new multi-purpose building was carried out between 1996 and 1998 and subsequently. The St. Ivan Rilski Chapel
built in 2003 is the first Eastern Orthodox edifice in Antarctica and the southernmost Eastern Orthodox building of worship in the world. A post office of the Bulgarian Posts
has been in operation at St. Kliment Ohridski since 1994/1995.
The base is visited regularly by representatives of the institutions responsible for Bulgaria's activities in Antarctica, including President Georgi Parvanov
of Bulgaria during January 2005.
Personnel and cargo from supply ships are offloaded by Zodiac boats at the southwestern extremity of the beach, 300 m away from the main base facilities. A designated helipad site is located on the northern side of the Grand Lagoon
.
St. Kliment Ohridski enjoys the exceptional advantage of several convenient overland routes leading from Bulgarian Beach
to a variety of internal and coastal areas of Livingston Island including the Balkan Snowfield
, Burdick Ridge
and Pliska Ridge
, Tangra Mountains
and the glaciers Perunika
, Huntress
, Huron
and Kaliakra
, and Saedinenie Snowfield
. The Spanish base Juan Carlos I is situated 2.7 km to the south-southwest, and is reached either by sea or by a 5.5 km route, while the central location of Camp Academia
site is 11 km due east in the Tangra Mountains.
The base is used by scientists from Bulgaria and other nations for research in the field of geology
, biology
, glaciology
, topography
and geographic information. St. Kliment Ohridski is visited by cruise ship
s from Hannah Point
, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Antarctica situated but 12 km to the west.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n Antarctic
Antarctic
The Antarctic is the region around the Earth's South Pole, opposite the Arctic region around the North Pole. The Antarctic comprises the continent of Antarctica and the ice shelves, waters and island territories in the Southern Ocean situated south of the Antarctic Convergence...
base on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands
South Shetland Islands
The South Shetland Islands are a group of Antarctic islands, lying about north of the Antarctic Peninsula, with a total area of . By the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, the Islands' sovereignty is neither recognized nor disputed by the signatories and they are free for use by any signatory for...
.
The base, originally known as Sofia University Refuge, was named in 1993 "for St. Kliment of Ohrid (840-916), prominent Bulgarian scholar."
Location
The base is located at 62°38′29"S 60°21′53"W, which is at an elevation of 12 to 15 m on Bulgarian BeachBulgarian Beach
Bulgarian Beach is a coast in the north part of Hurd Peninsula, eastern Livingston Island, extending 2.3 km from Hespérides Point to the southwest to Perunika Glacier to the northeast, and forming the southeast coast of Emona Anchorage.The beach comprises four predominantly boulder beaches,...
, 130 m inland from the shore of Emona Anchorage
Emona Anchorage
Emona Anchorage is a roughly square embayment, the internal part of South Bay, Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica used as an anchorage for ships visiting the Bulgarian base St...
, between Pesyakov Hill
Pesyakov Hill
Pesyakov Hill is the ice-free hill rising to 36 m next south-southwest of the 1988 buildings of St. Kliment Ohridski Base on Bulgarian Beach, Hurd Peninsula on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Surmounting Grand Lagoon to the west and southwest...
and Sinemorets Hill
Sinemorets Hill
Sinemorets Hill is the second most prominent in the chain of hills surmounting Bulgarian Beach in eastern Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica....
, overlooking the Grand Lagoon
Grand Lagoon
Grand Lagoon is a freshwater lagoon of elevation on Bulgarian Beach, Hurd Peninsula in eastern Livingston Island, in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Formed by Rezovski Creek and separated from sea by a moraine of elevation near . Surmounted by Pesyakov Hill...
. The base area is crossed by the melt-water Rezovski Creek
Rezovski Creek
Rezovski Creek is a melt-water stream located on Livingston Island, Antarctica.The 500 m long melt-water stream draining that portion of the northwestern slope of Balkan Snowfield located between Hesperides Hill, Atlantic Club Ridge, Krum Rock and Sinemorets Hill on Hurd Peninsula in eastern...
in the summer, providing a water supply.
History
Following an unsuccessful landing attempt at Cape Vostok on the northwestern extremity of Alexander IslandAlexander Island
Alexander Island or Alexander I Island or Alexander I Land or Alexander Land is the largest island of Antarctica, with an area of lying in the Bellingshausen Sea west of the base of the Antarctic Peninsula, from which it is separated by Marguerite Bay and George VI Sound. Alexander Island lies off...
, two prefabricated huts were assembled on Livingston Island between 26 and 29 April 1988 by a four-member Bulgarian party supported logistically by the Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
Research Ship Mikhail Somov. The facilities were later refurbished and inaugurated as a permanent base on 11 December 1993.
An expansion programme at St. Kliment Ohridski including the construction of a new multi-purpose building was carried out between 1996 and 1998 and subsequently. The St. Ivan Rilski Chapel
St. Ivan Rilski Chapel
The St. Ivan Rilski Chapel at the Bulgarian base St. Kliment Ohridski on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands is the first Eastern Orthodox edifice in Antarctica, and the southernmost Eastern Orthodox building of worship in the world...
built in 2003 is the first Eastern Orthodox edifice in Antarctica and the southernmost Eastern Orthodox building of worship in the world. A post office of the Bulgarian Posts
Bulgarian Posts
The Bulgarian Posts are the national postal service of Bulgaria. The company was founded after the Liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule, as the Russians handed all the post and telegraph offices to the newly-restored Bulgarian state on 14 May 1879...
has been in operation at St. Kliment Ohridski since 1994/1995.
Georgi Parvanov
Georgi Sedefchov Parvanov is a President of Bulgaria, whose second and last mandate expires on January 22, 2012; he was elected after defeating his predecessor Petar Stoyanov in the second round of the presidential elections in November 2001 and he came into office on January 22, 2002...
of Bulgaria during January 2005.
Use
Grand Lagoon
Grand Lagoon is a freshwater lagoon of elevation on Bulgarian Beach, Hurd Peninsula in eastern Livingston Island, in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Formed by Rezovski Creek and separated from sea by a moraine of elevation near . Surmounted by Pesyakov Hill...
.
St. Kliment Ohridski enjoys the exceptional advantage of several convenient overland routes leading from Bulgarian Beach
Bulgarian Beach
Bulgarian Beach is a coast in the north part of Hurd Peninsula, eastern Livingston Island, extending 2.3 km from Hespérides Point to the southwest to Perunika Glacier to the northeast, and forming the southeast coast of Emona Anchorage.The beach comprises four predominantly boulder beaches,...
to a variety of internal and coastal areas of Livingston Island including the Balkan Snowfield
Balkan Snowfield
Balkan Snowfield is an ice-covered plateau ranging from 150 to 280 m in eastern Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Western Antarctica...
, Burdick Ridge
Burdick Ridge
Burdick Ridge is a ridge rising to 773 m on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands. Extending for 1.9 km between Orpheus Gate in the southeast and Rezen Saddle in the northwest. Bounded by Perunika Glacier to the northeast, and Balkan Snowfield to the southwest. Takes its name from...
and Pliska Ridge
Pliska Ridge
Pliska Ridge is a three-peaked ridge rising to 667 m in eastern Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica...
, Tangra Mountains
Tangra Mountains
Tangra Mountains form the principal mountain range of Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica...
and the glaciers Perunika
Perunika Glacier
Perunika Glacier is an 8 km long and 3 km wide roughly crescent-shaped glacier in eastern Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica....
, Huntress
Huntress Glacier
Huntress Glacier is a 7 km long and 3.7 km wide glacier on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica bounded by Friesland Ridge, Tangra Mountains to the southeast, Nesebar Gap, Pliska Ridge, Burdick Ridge and Willan Nunatak to the north, and Charrúa Gap and Napier Peak...
, Huron
Huron Glacier
Huron Glacier is a 7.7 km long and 3.5 km wide glacial flow on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. The glacier is bounded by Bowles Ridge to the north, Wörner Gap to the west and Tangra Mountains to the south, receiving ice influx from several tributary glaciers...
and Kaliakra
Kaliakra Glacier
Kaliakra Glacier is a glacier in northeastern Livingston Island, Antarctica extending 7 km in east-west direction and 8 km in north-south direction...
, and Saedinenie Snowfield
Saedinenie Snowfield
Saedinenie Snowfield on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, is bounded by Teres Ridge to the west, the glacial divide between the Drake Passage and Bransfield Strait to the south, Gleaner Heights, Elhovo Gap and Leslie Hill to the southeast, and Leslie Gap and Vidin...
. The Spanish base Juan Carlos I is situated 2.7 km to the south-southwest, and is reached either by sea or by a 5.5 km route, while the central location of Camp Academia
Camp Academia
Camp Academia is a geographical locality in eastern Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, named for the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in appreciation of Academy’s contribution to the Antarctic exploration...
site is 11 km due east in the Tangra Mountains.
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
, biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
, glaciology
Glaciology
Glaciology Glaciology Glaciology (from Middle French dialect (Franco-Provençal): glace, "ice"; or Latin: glacies, "frost, ice"; and Greek: λόγος, logos, "speech" lit...
, topography
Topography
Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...
and geographic information. St. Kliment Ohridski is visited by cruise ship
Cruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
s from Hannah Point
Hannah Point
Hannah Point is a point on the south coast of Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. It forms the east side of the entrance to Walker Bay and the west side of the entrance to South Bay. Surmounted by Ustra Peak to the north, with Liverpool Beach extending between the peak and...
, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Antarctica situated but 12 km to the west.
See also
- St. Ivan Rilski ChapelSt. Ivan Rilski ChapelThe St. Ivan Rilski Chapel at the Bulgarian base St. Kliment Ohridski on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands is the first Eastern Orthodox edifice in Antarctica, and the southernmost Eastern Orthodox building of worship in the world...
- Bulgarian Antarctic InstituteBulgarian Antarctic InstituteBulgarian Antarctic Institute is the national Antarctic operator of Bulgaria, organizing annual Antarctic campaigns and maintaining the Bulgarian Antarctic base of St. Kliment Ohridski on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands...
- Camp AcademiaCamp AcademiaCamp Academia is a geographical locality in eastern Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, named for the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in appreciation of Academy’s contribution to the Antarctic exploration...
- Livingston Island
- South Shetland IslandsSouth Shetland IslandsThe South Shetland Islands are a group of Antarctic islands, lying about north of the Antarctic Peninsula, with a total area of . By the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, the Islands' sovereignty is neither recognized nor disputed by the signatories and they are free for use by any signatory for...
- Antarctica
- Antarctic Place-names CommissionAntarctic Place-names CommissionThe Antarctic Place-names Commission was established by the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute in 1994, and since 2001 has been a body affiliated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria. The Commission approves Bulgarian place names in Antarctica, which are formally given by the President of the...
- Tangra 2004/05 ExpeditionTangra 2004/05The Tangra 2004/05 Expedition was commissioned by the Antarctic Place-names Commission at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, managed by the Manfred Wörner Foundation, and supported by the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute, the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics at the Bulgarian Academy...
Maps
- Isla Livingston: Península Hurd. Mapa topográfico de escala 1:25 000. Madrid: Servicio Geográfico del Ejército, 1991.
- L.L. Ivanov. St. Kliment Ohridski Base, Livingston Island. Scale 1:1000 topographic map. Sofia: Antarctic Place-names Commission of Bulgaria, 1996. (The first Bulgarian Antarctic topographic map, in Bulgarian)
- L.L. Ivanov et al. Antarctica: Livingston Island and Greenwich Island, South Shetland Islands (from English Strait to Morton Strait, with illustrations and ice-cover distribution). Scale 1:100000 topographic map. Sofia: Antarctic Place-names Commission of Bulgaria, 2005.
- L.L. Ivanov. Antarctica: Livingston Island and Greenwich, Robert, Snow and Smith Islands. Scale 1:120000 topographic map. Troyan: Manfred Wörner Foundation, 2009. ISBN 978-954-92032-6-4
