Russia’s geographical society divers to explore sea off Crimea

MOSCOW, April 15 (Itar-Tass) - Researchers from Russian Geographical Society’s underwater research centre plan to explore in detail the sea area off Russia’s Crimean coast, President of the Russian Geographical Society Sergey Shoigu said at a meeting of the trustee council of the society on Tuesday. “Russian Geographical Society’s underwater research centre should shed light on unknown events of history. We have our ship, our deepwater vehicles for research. In 2014 the centre’s programme encompasses more than ten objects located in the Baltic Sea, the Beaufort Sea, the Kara Sea, the Sea of Japan (the East Sea), the Mediterranean Sea, the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea. We plan to explore more closely the sea area off Crimean coast,” Shoigu said. He recalled the underwater research centre had undertaken the first research expedition in the previous year, “this year there will be five of them.” The Crimean region is linked not only with the history of Russian fleet, but also the Russian Geographical Society which laid down foundations for researching nature and history of the peninsula more than 150 years ago, the society’s president said. “Such outstanding personalities as Vernadsky, Fersman [both are prominent Soviet mineralogists and geochemists], Obruchev [a well-known Soviet geologist and one of the first Russian science fiction authors] are linked with research of Tavrida [the Russian name for Tauris which is an ancient name of Crimea]. Our task is to continue their traditions, particularly reviving Russian Geographical Society branches which had worked here in the past. By the way, the brightest and most interesting projects, including our regional branches, will be presented at a festival of the Russian Geographical Society in autumn,” Shoigu noted. He noted that all those who were fond of local history studies, tourism, photography and history were invited to participate in the festival. Learn more on itar-tass.com