Question: Mr. Yershov, in late December there was a report that the polar explorers in Franz Josef Land received champagne and tangerines for the New Year. What are their plans for the holiday, do they have any special traditions?

Answer: First, of course they will have salads and baked goods. We can't forget that, despite the holidays, these are workdays for the polar explorers. A 24-hour watch is still in effect, which means the work and the New Year's celebration schedule will be complied with.

Question: Which means no days off?

Answer: No consecutive days off; someone will always be on duty.

Question: And what is the weather like in the Arctic right now?

Answer: It is polar nights in the Arctic now; the winter is at its strongest. I think we had minus 10 to 12 degrees today.

Question: Are tours held during polar nights?

Answer: Not yet. We're considering mid-winter tours for the future.

Question: Do you plan to introduce a new tourist route next year?

Answer: Next year we'll master this year's new routes, that is, the tours to Spitsbergen and Franz Josef Land.