VLADIVOSTOK, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Eight travelers set off Friday on a record-breaking expedition covering the entire Russian territory in the Arctic region, Russia's TASS news agency reported.
The 10,000-km expedition begins in the northeastern city of Arkhangelsk and ends in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in the Far East. The travelers, driving four Russian-made Sherp All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV), plan to set the world record for the longest terrestrial voyage in the Polar Circle without the use of public roads.
The team will explore the transport accessibility of the Arctic region in summer time, while crossing the Yenisei, Ob and Lena rivers in Siberia which have never been crossed by vehicles before.
Checking radiation levels and conducting ecological monitoring along the entire route are also tasks on the list. The collected information will be handed over to various Russian environmental agencies for further research.
The expedition is expected to end on Nov. 4.
