The amazing photo of white whale Petrovich by our photographer Viktor Lyagushkin, which won the Best Edit Award from National Geographic Headquarters, was so attractive, that it turned attention of another National Geographic regional magazine – Nordic.
Please meet Whale Petrovich in NG Nordic!
White Rivers in White Sea this is title of our publication in National Geographic Russia Magazine July 2013 about mystery phenomenon, which had been discovered by our team in April 2013 at Polar Circle.
Plunging under the ice of the bay Biofiltry on the White Sea, we found that the bay’s basin at 7 m deep seemed to be filled with smoke. At touch smooth interface between the transparent and whitish water heaved with swirls and its smooth contours restored only few hours later. “Smoke” had a strong smell of hydrogen sulfide.
Although hydrogen sulfide is used for medical purposes, such as hydrogen sulfide baths, the gas is very toxic. Even a small amount of hydrogen sulfide in the air inhaled causes dizziness, headache, nausea; and its significant concentration leads to coma, convulsions, pulmonary edema, and even death. For marine life hydrogen sulfide is as much as dangerous. Divers’ anxiety was clear, so they took samples of the water and turned to the scientists. The explanation was surprising and not simple.
During our expedition to White sea, where we did a surprising discovery, Viktor made a shot of a 20 year old white whale named Petrovich. The beluga basked in the spring sunshine and was happy about spring coming.
The photo of whale Petrovich became popular; image with some info on white whales was published in National Geographic Russia Magazine (June 2013) and won the Best Edit Award from the National Geographic Headquarters! Congrats Viktor!
Good news for our followers from Poland: article about Blue Lake Project in the Diving Polish Magazine “Nurkowanie” #3 2013. Eight two-page spreads!
“Gdzieś na południu Rosji wznoszą się strome skały, a wysokie góry oślepiają bielą. Rozdzielają je ponure kaniony, którymi pędzą szalone rzeki. Kaniony musiały ustąpić pod naporem wody, więc rzeki stawały się coraz szersze i wypływały swobodnie, przecinając zielone łąki i lasy. Oto Kaukaz.”
Stoneworts — an ancient class that combines the attributes of algae and higher-order plants — serve as a source of food for waterfowl, especially during autumn migrations.
Wrapped in a weightless veil of cladophoraceae algae —
poetically named mermaid’s hair — stoneworts adorn this 260-meter-deep karst lake, their mild radiancy juxtaposed against the gloomy rock walls of the deep. When exposed to sunlight or strobes, stoneworts start to shed their own light. This phenomenon is known as photoluminescence, and lasts for only a fraction of a second.
HOW I GOT THE SHOT I used a Nikon D3s, 60mm, f/2.8, Subal housing, and two Ikelite DS160 substrobes mounted on the camera.
Where: Blue Lake, Kabardino-Balkaria, Caucasus, Russia
by Viktor Lyagushkin
Look Section, Scuba Diving Magazine (USA) March/April 2013
A big 9-page piece about history of underwater archaeology at the Issyk-Kul lake in Asian Diver Magazine, 2012, Issue 6, Volume 123
“The history of Lake Issyk-Kul is littered with secrets. It is said that nearly 1,500 years ago, a Chinese Buddhist monk went on a pilgrimage to India. Overcoming difficulties and dangers, the traveller came to a big lake about four miles into the mountains. This was the Issyk-Kul Lake, sitted amidst mountains and taking income from numerous rivers. The monk described the lake as being greenish-black, salty and bitter. Its sweeping waves would at times rise and attack the shore with irresistible force. The lake, said the monk, is home to dragons and fish, and sometimes, extraordinary monsters appear from the depths. That’s why travellers pray for others and their own welfare. While the inhabitants of the lake are numerous, no one dares to catch any.
But it is impossible to quash human curiosity and the thirst for knowledge. Since the 19th century, Russian scientists have been studying the ancient remains around Issyk Kul, which range from petroglyphs and 3,000-year-old kurgans (nomadic burial mounds) to early Christian monasteries and medieval cities. The lake itself also drew attention from researchers pertaining to certain remains that lie beneath its stunning cobalt waters.”
Orda Cave again in Photoexpedition section of National Geographic Russia Magazine, March 2013.
Orda Cave has been featured among 
the best world’s underwater caves according Scuba Diving Magazine.
Text: Bogdana Vashchenko, photo: Victor Lyagushkin.
N-Photo Magazine chosed Viktor’s photo “Diving Under the Stars” for their issue #10 Feature Section “Nine pages of inspirational images from top Nikon photographers”
September 2012 we joined National Geographic expedition at Issyk-Kul Lake, searching for sunken Tamerlan’s Palace. It was really exciting adventure, we are looking forward to seeing a big piece in the National Geographic Magazine, and cannot tell you all the story. We should keep the secret.
Now just small announcement in the National Geographic Russia, March 2013 issue.
text: Bogdana Vashchenko, photo: Viktor Lyagushkin