Senko Pavel
02.03.2000
Pavel Kononovich Senko
Geophysicist, scientist, Arctic and Antarctic researcher. He died in Moscow on 2.03.2000, bequeathed to bury his ashes in Antarctica, on the island of Buromsky
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Pavel Kononovich Senko was a Soviet polar explorer, scientist, head and participant of many Arctic and Antarctic expeditions. He was born on October 4, 1916 in Semipalatinsk. In 1927 his family moved to Leningrad. Soon after, Pavel’s father was arrested on the count of sabotage and convicted. Despite all the hardship, Senko graduated from school with honours and entered Leningrad State University. He had to hide his father’s criminal record.
‘It was not mentioned by me because, under the requirements that used to exist, recording the fact in an official form would not let me enter a higher education institution, and later would hinder me from working in my field,’ Pavel wrote in 1955 in his explanatory report prior to the Antarctic expedition.
After Senko graduated, he was sent to work in the North. At that time, the whole country felt the pride for polar explorers’ feats and shared the admiration for the flights of Chkalov and Gromov’s crews over the North Pole. The young geophysicist began the wintering season at the polar station Cape Chelyuskin. There was almost no spare time: apart from scientific research, Pavel also had to hunt, as the provisions were tight.
While working in the North, Senko was keeping a diary. The war started, and his home city, Leningrad, was under siege. Here is an excerpt from Pavel’s diary: ‘August 26, 1942. It's been exactly three years at the polar station. Over 6 months have passed since my Mother died of starvation on February 5.’
Pavel Senko spent 6 years in the North. For his work in the Arctic during the Great Patriotic War, he was awarded the medals ‘For the Defence of the Arctic Circle’ and ‘For the Victory over Germany’.
Pavel took part in many Arctic expeditions. In 1948, Senko together with a group of Soviet scientists landed on the North Pole, for the first time in history. The information about that expedition was classified, so the fact was officially acknowledged only 40 years later. That achievement has been recorded in the Guinness World Records.
Pavel Senko dedicated over a quarter of a century to the exploration of Antarctica. In 1956, he took part in the first Soviet Antarctic expedition as head of a geophysical group. During that winter, he became navigator for the sled train trip that went deep into the continent, to the Earth's magnetic pole.
Two years later, Senko returned to Antarctica. His work was hard and life-threatening. Once, Pavel and his colleague were on the brink of death. They left base on a dog sled to conduct a field study and were trapped in a fierce blizzard. There was zero visibility, it was freezing cold, the wind was gale-force – it seemed hopeless. The explorers were searching for the way back to the station for three days. They were able to survive solely because of the remarkable sense of direction Pavel had acquired in the Arctic, as well as his courage and optimism.
Four more times Senko would become head of Soviet Antarctic expeditions. During autumn 1966, a scientific trip of 3400 km was undertaken under his leadership. It was the longest in the history of Antarctic exploration. In 1973, as head of the 18th expedition, Pavel carried out a rescue operation on board the Ob ship bound by ice.
Not long before his death, Senko drew up his last will and testament. He asked for his ashes to be buried in Antarctica, on Buromsky island. The scientist’s final wish was fulfilled on September 16, 2001. His grave is next to that of the renowned Ob captain, Ivan Alexandrovich Mahn.
Geophysicist, scientist, Arctic and Antarctic researcher. He died in Moscow on 2.03.2000, bequeathed to bury his ashes in Antarctica, on the island of Buromsky
***
Pavel Kononovich Senko was a Soviet polar explorer, scientist, head and participant of many Arctic and Antarctic expeditions. He was born on October 4, 1916 in Semipalatinsk. In 1927 his family moved to Leningrad. Soon after, Pavel’s father was arrested on the count of sabotage and convicted. Despite all the hardship, Senko graduated from school with honours and entered Leningrad State University. He had to hide his father’s criminal record.
‘It was not mentioned by me because, under the requirements that used to exist, recording the fact in an official form would not let me enter a higher education institution, and later would hinder me from working in my field,’ Pavel wrote in 1955 in his explanatory report prior to the Antarctic expedition.
After Senko graduated, he was sent to work in the North. At that time, the whole country felt the pride for polar explorers’ feats and shared the admiration for the flights of Chkalov and Gromov’s crews over the North Pole. The young geophysicist began the wintering season at the polar station Cape Chelyuskin. There was almost no spare time: apart from scientific research, Pavel also had to hunt, as the provisions were tight.
While working in the North, Senko was keeping a diary. The war started, and his home city, Leningrad, was under siege. Here is an excerpt from Pavel’s diary: ‘August 26, 1942. It's been exactly three years at the polar station. Over 6 months have passed since my Mother died of starvation on February 5.’
Pavel Senko spent 6 years in the North. For his work in the Arctic during the Great Patriotic War, he was awarded the medals ‘For the Defence of the Arctic Circle’ and ‘For the Victory over Germany’.
Pavel took part in many Arctic expeditions. In 1948, Senko together with a group of Soviet scientists landed on the North Pole, for the first time in history. The information about that expedition was classified, so the fact was officially acknowledged only 40 years later. That achievement has been recorded in the Guinness World Records.
Pavel Senko dedicated over a quarter of a century to the exploration of Antarctica. In 1956, he took part in the first Soviet Antarctic expedition as head of a geophysical group. During that winter, he became navigator for the sled train trip that went deep into the continent, to the Earth's magnetic pole.
Two years later, Senko returned to Antarctica. His work was hard and life-threatening. Once, Pavel and his colleague were on the brink of death. They left base on a dog sled to conduct a field study and were trapped in a fierce blizzard. There was zero visibility, it was freezing cold, the wind was gale-force – it seemed hopeless. The explorers were searching for the way back to the station for three days. They were able to survive solely because of the remarkable sense of direction Pavel had acquired in the Arctic, as well as his courage and optimism.
Four more times Senko would become head of Soviet Antarctic expeditions. During autumn 1966, a scientific trip of 3400 km was undertaken under his leadership. It was the longest in the history of Antarctic exploration. In 1973, as head of the 18th expedition, Pavel carried out a rescue operation on board the Ob ship bound by ice.
Not long before his death, Senko drew up his last will and testament. He asked for his ashes to be buried in Antarctica, on Buromsky island. The scientist’s final wish was fulfilled on September 16, 2001. His grave is next to that of the renowned Ob captain, Ivan Alexandrovich Mahn.
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