Comment about tour Yenisey Meridian

29-11-2000

author - Prof. Dr. Jorg Pfadenhauer, Germany.

The Chair of Vegetation Ecology, Department of Ecology at the Technische Universitat Munchen, undertook with a group of 27 students (landscape planning, biology) from 17.08.2000 till 08.09.2000 a scientific excursion to the Enisey River in Siberia. The excursion was lead by myself with help of Mrs. Weissman, postgraduate student at the Chair of Vegetation Ecology.

The aim of the excursion was to demonstrate to the students the change of vegetation and the landscape processes along the zonal belts under continental climatic conditions. Our excursion route started in the closer environment of Norilsk, were we studded Tundra and Forest Tundra. Following the Enisey river to South we further saw representatives of the landscape zones Northern Taiga (Melnivhniy Kamni), Middle Taiga (Mirnoe), Southern Taiga (Kolmogorovo), Mountain Taiga (Stolby) and Steppe (Chazy, near Abakan).

The excursion route through Siberia was chosen and fully organized by employees of Ecological Travel Centre (ETC). The service of ETC included the organization of all travel (incl. invitation for visa) and accommodation arrangements as well as the whole supply in Russia. Throughout the whole trip the group was accompanied by four scientists (biologists Dr. Antonina Aleksandrova and Boris Sheftel, geographer Tatiana Kalishevskaya and soil scientist Dr. Natalya Belousova). All scientific lectures during the excursion were organized by ETC, partly given by members of ETC themselves (Dr. Sheftel, Dr. Belousova and Mr. Pogozhev), partly by local scientists. The lectures were translated by the ETC staff (Dr. Aleksandrova and Mrs. Kalishevskaya) into English language.

From our point of view, the excursion was carried through very successfully. The members of ETC realized our aim, to study the zonal change of landscapes, with very high consideration and reliability. The cooperation with the members of ETC during the trip through Siberia as well as during the times of preparation was great pleasure to us. The services of ETC can be highly recommended to other groups with similar aims.

Prof. Dr. Jorg Pfadenhauer

Head of Chair of Vegetation Ecology
Dean of the Faculty of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning