#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. Scientists from various geological parties and scientific institutes flew to the Arctic in the spring to disperse along their long-distance routes.
Our city was often the start and finish place for these expeditions and, given the desertedness of the territory, the only stronghold of civilization. Here they shopped, laundered and had a “cultural holiday.” Norilsk warmly welcomed such guests, but there were some oddities. One such story was described by the polar geologist and writer Anatoly Laiba in the book The Arctic Circle Squaring.
“…In the early spring of the 1960s, a group of young geophysicists led by the experienced geophysicist Litvinov flew to Hatanga. From Hatanga Shchelovanov, Zatsepin and Malyavkin went with geophysical equipment to Norilsk, since they were going to fly on the local squadron planes. Seeing off the guys on the road, Litvinov, among other things, told Shchelovanov as the eldest of the group:
– If you’re in Norilsk, please fill my tooth.
– What do you mean?
Litvinov handed over an artificial jaw wrapped in a handkerchief.
The group flew to Norilsk, settled into a hotel and began installing equipment on airplanes. They also didn’t forget about the boss’s jaw. On the second day Shchelovanov took it to the dentist. By the last day of the Norilsk business trip, they managed to get everything done.
They whiled away their free evening chattering and couldn’t even sleep. “Let’s go to the restaurant, guys”, Zatsepin suggested. “Let’s go,” everyone agreed. They had a great walk until midnight, returned to the hotel and went to bed with great desire. In the morning they got ready to go on the road, everyone was in a great mood. Only Sasha Malyavkin, with a worried look, was rummaging through all the tables and pockets.
– Why are you fussing?
– It’s a bad thing… I think I’ve lost Litvinov’s jaw.
– How did you lose it?
– I got it from the dentist and put it in my pocket. And then, as I remember, I wrapped it into the handkerchief. And now I can’t find it.
– Do you know what Litvinov’s order No. 1 will be in Hatanga? asked Zhenya Zatsepin.
– What?
– Discharge Shchelovanov and Malyavkin! For intentional harm to the boss’s health – loss of his personal teeth.
– Well, help me find it.
They searched the whole room – there was no trace, not even Litvin’s handkerchief. They sat dejectedly, and in three hours the flight took off.
– Listen, couldn’t you have lost it in the restaurant? Shchelovanov asked.
– Okay, there’s still time. Let’s go to the restaurant.
They entered the restaurant, and the waitress met them.
– Guys, didn’t you lose anything here?
– Really, we lost some thing.
– I found it under the table.
She handed them the boss’s jaw, wrapped in a dusty handkerchief.
– Well, guys, order No. 1 is cancelled!
Shchelovanov was delighted.
They walked for another hour and a half in the highest spirits. The first season in the Arctic seemed to be going well.”
In the History Spot’s previous publication, we told that naturalist Gerald Durrell visited Taimyr.
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Text: Svetlana Ferapontova, Photo: Nornickel Polar Branch archive
