The Arctic — Mission of Goodwill historical and cultural expedition following the Naryan-Mar — Vaigach Island route kicked off on April 4 from the Nenets Autonomous Area Tourist Cultural Center, the Arctic-Info Agency reports.

The route is based on the 1898 expedition route covered by Alexander Borisov, an Arctic explorer, writer and public figure who made a significant contribution to the development of the North.

As part of the expedition, the researchers plan to reach the Fyodorov station on the north of the island by snowmobiles and then return to Naryan-Mar about two weeks later. The travelers will cover 1,400 kilometers, 230 of which will be spent traversing the ice of the Barents Sea.

The expedition will be comprised of historians, tourists and journalists, and aims to confirm the historical experience of Russian Arctic exploration and to study the prospects of creating a national park on Vaigach Island. In addition, the researchers hope to establish a new tourist route in the western part of the Russian Arctic, which professionals and amateurs who engage in active and cultural and educational tourism may need in the future. The travelers also plan to shoot a documentary during the expedition.

"The Arctic can become a beacon of spiritual development. Our expedition will allow for exploring and appreciating the historical path of development of the Arctic territories followed by the Northern indigenous peoples, as well as performing a traditional peace ritual on Vaigach Island, which is sacred for indigenous inhabitants, as a message of good intentions to all peoples and nationalities," said Matvei Chuprov, member of the expedition and head of the Tourist Cultural Center.

 The project has been implemented with the support of the Nenets Autonomous Area Administration and the Nenets branch of the Russian Geographical Society.