MURMANSK, November 25. /TASS/. The Russia 360 Continental Expedition along land borders of the Russian Federation finished in Murmansk, from where the expedition started in January, the Murmansk Region's Ministry of Information Policy said. The travelers were the first in the world to drive wheeled vehicles almost 33,000 km along Russia's border.
"The Russia 360 Continental Expedition has finished in Murmansk," the authority reported. "The travelers have driven along country's land border on Russian-made wheeled vehicles - ATVs, cars and off-road vehicles - and set three records."
Minister for the Development of the Far East and Arctic Alexey Chekunkov joined the ceremony by a video call. "It is very important to have practical use of such expeditions," the release quoted the minister as saying. "To implement and use best solutions to develop and strengthen this country's leadership in the Far North's development. Special thanks to the project team for their contribution to promotion of the Far East and the Arctic, and to development of tourism. I am sure that many people, inspired by the expedition, will want to visit the most beautiful travel destinations, and will also choose the Far East and the Arctic for study, work and life."
Presidential Envoy to the Far Eastern Federal District, Deputy Prime Minister Yury Trutnev welcomed the travelers: "A variety of people has been watching your expedition for almost a year. You have demonstrated what positive curiosity, thirst for adventure and courage are about, and I am sure a few hundred people in Russia have not remained untouched. Keep it up! I am sure the young and brave team has great achievements ahead of them."
The expedition's main participants were: Bogdan Bulychev, a Russian traveler, documentary filmmaker, Arctic blogger; Andrey Korkh, deputy head of the Russian Geographical Society Expo expedition center and member of the Pro Travel team, as well as Evgeny Shatalov, head of the Red Off road Expedition center and a Russian record holder.
The Russia 360 First Continental Expedition started from Murmansk in late January. The route was almost 33,000 km long. The expedition crossed Russia's 58 regions, including the Arctic, the Far East, the Urals, the Caucasus, South, Central Russia and Kaliningrad. It was the world's first passage of the Northern Sea Route along land borders on wheeled vehicles, as well as the world's first passage of all land borders of Russia and the world's first visit to the four extreme points of the North, East, South and West of Russia within one year. Photographs and memoirs will be used in several films and books for children. Russian President Vladimir Putin supported the Russia 360 expedition.