Take a look at 38 exclusive photographs of how Polar Airlines was rescuing the French Arctic explorer Jean-Louis Etienne in the Arctic tundra of Yakutia’s Siberia after his 5-days North Pole balloon crossing on April 11th, 2010.

IN THE PICS:

The 1st portion – Snow peaks in Verkhoyansky Ulus’ part of the Verkhoyansky Range. Sacred stone pillars called Kihilyakh. Endless rivers. Expanses are so vast and the distance between the village of Batagai is so big so the French support team and their Russian/Yakutian guides got really tired and fell asleep. Actually, the famous Arctic explorer, Jean-Louis Etienne landed not in Verkhoyansky region, but the neigbour one, Ust-Yansky region that is considered to be the Arctic Circle and very restricted frontier area.

The 2nd portion – Almost no comments required. Joy and happiness of finding the French adventure icon alive. The interview, showing waving hands & standing up for the must-be-fabulous adventure-science documentary, group photographing, and some PR for Polar Airlines

ADDITIONALLY:

I am currently translating Yakutsk Vechernyj weekly newspaper’s story called “The balloon crashed in the tundra. A French ‘spy’ left his equipment in Batagai.” Additionally I am also going to disclose some interesting facts of what really happened to Jean-Louis Etienne in Siberia’s Yakutia and put some video footages. Stay tuned.

Photos provided by Yakutia’s Polar Airlines.