The leading vessel of the Russian polar fleet “Akademik Fedorov” brought participants of 55^th Russian Antarctic Expedition very close to the southern continent and is expected to reach shore ice of “Progress” coastal station today.
      
      The vessel carries construction materials, fuel and food, which will be unloaded and delivered to the wintering site. Helicopters will carry geologists and polar explorers to the “Vostok” station.
      
      Air temperatures near the shore are about zero degrees Centigrade, which is normal temperature of the South Pole summer.
      
      Researchers will investigate the role of the Antarctica in the global climate change, continue studies of lake Vostok and perform complex geological studies of local rocks and marine exploration of the continent’s margin.
      
      Source: ITAR-TASS