The Arctic Shamrock is the northernmost outpost of the Russian Federation, as well as the northernmost structure of this scale. The uniqueness of this object is observed in everything: from the architectural features of the complex to the latest technologies that ensure the full functioning of the outpost.
Ursa Major Country
Ursa Major Country - this is how the word “Arctic” can be translated from Greek. This is the northernmost region of the globe. The Arctic area, depending on the method of territorial division, varies from 21 to 27 million square kilometers.
The development of the Arctic began a long time ago. To this day, this area has attracted many researchers. The Arctic is rich in minerals, and this explains the disputes of the northern countries about the definition of their territories. Interest in recent years has increased due to global warming, which promises to make mining less expensive in the future, as well as open new routes.
The Arctic territories are claimed by Russia, the USA, Denmark, Norway and Canada. The UN Convention regulates legal relations in the division of the Arctic.
Russia in the Arctic
The development of the Arctic by Russia, with some interruptions, has been going on for centuries. The development of oil fields was actively carried out by the Soviet Union. After the collapse of the USSR, developments were abandoned and mountains of garbage remained in their place. The cleansing of the territory began only in 2011.
Russia's interest in the Arctic is due to many factors. Firstly, it is the wealth of the region’s natural resources. Secondly, the mass melting of ice in the Arctic Ocean in the future will ensure the formation of new transport routes. The third and one of the most important factors is the military. Since the shortest route between the Russian Federation and Western countries passes through the Arctic Ocean, it is obvious that in the event of a military conflict, the main theater of operations will develop in the Arctic. This fact is the main reason for the construction of the Arctic Shamrock military base in the Arctic.
In 2014, D. Medvedev signed an order to resume development. It meant the opening of thirteen airfields, ten air defense stations, sixteen ports. In addition, drifting and search stations resumed work.
Construction
The construction of the Arctic Shamrock base began in 2007, but information on the stages of construction became publicly available only in 2015. The location of the base was Alexandra Land Island in the Franz Josef Land archipelago at eighty degrees north latitude. This is not the only Russian military facility located in the northern latitudes. In the archipelago of the Novosibirsk islands on the island of Kotelny, there is "North Clover" - the first Arctic base in Russia, "Trefoil" became the second.
The “Arctic Shamrock” is the northernmost object in the world, during the creation of which not only construction and installation works, but also earthworks were used. They consist in the installation of buried foundations, load-bearing structures and communication. Despite the fact that the construction is not yet completed, the base is already populated and performs its functions. Construction work is carried out by SpetsStroy Russia. More than eight hundred people are involved in the construction. For the constructions, unique technologies were used to build capital structures in permafrost, and modern materials that effectively retain heat and significantly reduce the cost of maintaining a positive temperature in the base buildings.
Base Description
On the territory of the "Arctic Shamrock" there are several buildings and special structures. The main building of the base is an administrative-residential complex, made in the form of a three-beam star. This is a five-story building, painted in the colors of the Russian tricolor.
Between the branches of the administrative-residential complex, three elliptical buildings were built. They include a kitchen and a dining room, leisure facilities, a medical and administrative unit. The outpost also has a boiler room, a power plant, warehouses, garages and other outbuildings. The structures are interconnected by insulated crossings. This is a very important communication that allows you to freely move around the base even in the most severe frost.
In addition, roads are organized along the island, and a pumping fuel station is equipped on the shore. All this makes the Arctic Shamrock complex autonomous. Equipping the base is able to provide a one-time stay for one and a half hundred people for eighteen months.
Unique features
During the construction of the outpost, the designers faced certain difficulties due to the remoteness of the complex from the "Big Land" and the very low average annual temperature of the region. Equipment and building materials are delivered to the facility via the Northern Sea Route. However, it is only possible four months a year during summer navigation.
The main feature of the “Arctic Shamrock” is a pile foundation, the presence of which eliminates the risk of snow drifts of buildings. The administrative-residential complex is located in the center of the base, and branches, like rays, pass into other buildings and structures. Moreover, even from space, the Arctic Shamrock is able to impress with the uniqueness of architectural solutions.
Life on base
For the garrison guarding the northern borders of the Russian Federation, comfortable conditions are organized for both work and leisure. The main building of the base is divided into four blocks - three beams and the central part, which has an atrium with a glass roof, which ensures the entry of daylight into the building. In addition, an observation deck on the roof of the building allows you to observe each point of the base. In the rays of the building are mainly residential premises. From the central part, insulated walkways lead to other main buildings.
In addition to the main buildings, the base houses technical and utility structures that can ensure the autonomy of the facility for a long time.
Air defense
The defense of the northern borders and the air defense of the territory of the Russian Federation is the main task that the Ministry of Defense places on the Arctic Shamrock. The organization of the Air Defense Division in the Arctic today has become one of the priority tasks of the Ministry of Defense.
Back in the days of the Soviet Union, when the likelihood of war with the United States was brewing, great attention was paid to the installation of air defense in the Arctic, because the shortest way from the USA to Russia lies precisely through the Arctic Ocean. But at the end of the Cold War, many bases were curtailed and abandoned. And now, after more than twenty years, in connection with the aggravation of relations between Russia and the West, they again spoke about air defense in the Arctic.
Two military bases are already operating in the northern latitudes of the country. This is the "Northern Clover" "Arctic Shamrock."
The construction of the Shamrock significantly strengthened the grouping of Russian troops in the Northern latitudes and provided protection for the Northern Sea Route.
Shamrock features
In addition to its main function - protecting the air borders of the Russian Federation, meteorological studies are carried out on the basis of. The control of the Northern Sea Route consists not only in military protection, but also in ensuring the safe passage of ships in terms of weather conditions. Modern equipment installed on the base helps to analyze the course, movement of ice and other factors that can slow down or impede shipping.
Prospects
More recently, the existence of the base was known only to a certain circle of people. In March 2017, the President of the Russian Federation V.V. visited the Arctic Putin The visit was also attended by the Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology. One of the goals of the visit was to visit an outpost. And already in April, a new project was launched on the website of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation - a virtual tour of the Arctic Shamrock. Now everyone can get acquainted with the conditions in which the northernmost military unit lives.
As political scientists predict, in the near future a fierce struggle for the Arctic territories will unfold on the world stage. In addition to the five applicants known for a long time, having frontiers in the Arctic Ocean, other countries began to claim their rights to the northern territories.
The massive melting of glaciers opens up new prospects for the development of northern territories rich in their natural resources. In addition, from the point of view of the country's defense, the Arctic is of strategic importance.