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International Cosmonauts Ecological Mission in Siberia - 1994

International Cosmonauts Ecological Mission in Siberia - 1994

Jacek Pałkiewicz
2006-06-17 16:40:39

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will be fraught with surprises and difficulties to overcome. The speed of the current increases, the water starts to foam, the dull voice of the river increases in intensity like the rolling of thunder.

We look for a safe way through the waves. It is impossible to stay in complete control of our vessel in the rapids. But to our great relief, after 100 meters of stormy water the worst is behind us. While our friends on the other raft are suddenly brought to a halt by some stones jutting out of the river, Vladimir falls into the water and doesn't notice that our raft, which weighs over a tonne, is threatening to crush him against the rocks. It is in situations like this that the true spirit of the group shows itself. He is immediately rescued by his fellow-travellers. But the river teaches us never to allow ourselves to become distracted by anything.

Before evening arrives we have to use large sticks to lift the boat out of the water a few more times and launch it again in deeper water. In spite of being tired out everyone helps out at our resting place. Gennady and Sergei catch two buckets full of fish in half an hour. The river had taken all we had to give just a short time ago and now it was rewarding us generously. From today fish will be our staple diet, prepared in a wide variety of ways: barbecued, as a soup and raw.

From time to time, we come across a few elks and reindeer, but when the wind betrays our scent, these majestic animals make off at a gentle trot. Here, Man is not yet an enemy. We see many traces of bears, but fortunately they keep their distance. Perhaps the danger is not as great as we think, but the expedition leader has to do all he can to prevent any accidents happening.

Our adventure on a still untouched tip of land lasted only 10 days. It's difficult to describe the emotions, the sense of wonder and exhilaration one feels living in direct contact with nature, drinking water from springs, angling practically bare-handed and breathing in the clear pine-scented air. And precisely this is being lost to mankind. On the return flight we write a letter to the General Secretary of the United Nations requesting him to declare Evenkiya National Park No 1 on the planet Earth. Man's stupidity and greed is turning what was one a natural paradise into a wasteland. So let's try to save these irreplaceable treasures and, in doing so, restore this earth to health.

Things were cosier in outer space: for ten days, cosmonauts from Russia, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and Ukraine fought their way through Siberian wilderness

The end of the exhibition: still in the helicopter bound for Moscow, the scientists write a letter to the United Nations asking that the Siberian Evenkiya province be declared the world's first natural park.