“Antarctica – the Bulgarian Ice Tale”
More than 20 years ago, a group of young Bulgarian scientists realized their dream — for Bulgaria to be present on the most distant and unknown continent, Antarctica. A dream that became reality thanks to their tireless work, determination, and self-sacrifice.
The exhibition “Antarctica – the Bulgarian Ice Tale” is a narrative and chronicle of the difficult path traversed over the years by Bulgarian scientists and researchers to explore and study the icy continent. The exhibition “Antarctica – the Bulgarian Ice Tale” is a narrative and chronicle of the difficult path traversed over the years by Bulgarian scientists and researchers to master and study the icy continent.
The Bulgarian Antarctic Institute (BAI) is a co-organizer of the exhibition and has donated more than 100 exhibits to the National Museum of History related to the activities of the Bulgarian polar expeditions from 1987 to 2013. Of particular interest are the collections of rock samples and minerals, lichens and fungi, geological and topographical maps, alpine equipment, measuring instruments, books, commemorative stamps, photographs, and more.
Most of the artifacts are on display in the exhibition. Interesting highlights of the exhibition include the reconstruction of a geological field camp from the 1980s, a model of the Bulgarian Antarctic base “St. Kliment Ohridski”, and a three-dimensional model of the Bulgarian Orthodox chapel “St. Ivan Rilski”, which is one of the architectural landmarks of the icy continent.
The main texts in the exhibition provide detailed information about the geographical features, ecosystem, flora, and fauna of the continent, the activities of the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute, a chronology of the Bulgarian presence in Antarctica, and more.
