Prof. Lyubomir Ivanov is the National Representative of Bulgaria to SCAR SCAGI and Chairman of the Antarctic Place-names Commission at Ministry of Foreign Affairs-Republic of Bulgaria. Lyubo is Chairman, Toponymic Board at National Centre for Polar Studies as well.
WAP readers might be interested to know of a recently published Bulgarian map of Bowles Ridge and Tangra Mountains on Livingston Island, South Shetlands (SCAR Map # 15864).
Livingston Island was discovered on 19 February 1819 by the Briton William Smith and was the first land now governed by the international Antarctic Treaty system. The first inhabitants of the island were American and British seal hunters, and their are the early geographical discoveries and toponyms in the area. Seal hunters today are inherited by scientists, as well as fishermen, among whose pioneers last century are the Bulgarians from Ocean Fishing – Burgas. Today, Bulgaria is connected to the island through annual expeditions and scientific research, as well as the responsibility to map the region for the needs of all human activities related to the exploration of Antarctica and the exploitation of its resources.
Prof. Ivanov said: «The map is an early example of mapping based on the Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica (REMA) developed by The Ohio State University and the University of Minnesota, a rather promising approach indeed».
Hard copies of the map could be purchased from Librum. (see an electronic version of the map hereby aside sent by our friend Lyubo).
.
We did ask Prof Ivanov about Ham operators at the Bulgarian Base St Kliment Ohridski (WAP BUL-Ø1)or if any activity is planned from there on next summer Antarctic Campaign … maybe some Ham radio operator can put the Bulgarian Base on the air after nearly 20 years!!! Last one active was VP8/LZ1UQ in 2006 and before LZØA on 1995.
Lyubomir replied: «I do not think there will be any Ham operator at the Bulgarian base in the next season, nor on our Antarctic naval Research Ship “Sv. sv. Kiril i Metodiy” (English: Sts. Cyril and Methodius) for that matter, but if I find out otherwise, I would let you know»
.
.
TNX Prof. Lyubomir Ivanov and congrats for you continuous and invaluable work.