Tara Arctic, a unique expedition over the roof of the world

In the wake of Fridtjof Nansen
Until now, the sailing boat Fram was the only vessel to have dared to face the extreme conditions of the Far North, back in 1893. By carrying out the same Arctic drift a little over a century later, Tara was going to shed light on the spectacular nature of this unique scientific adventure and the ongoing environmental disruptions.

The highlights

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78° North: first steps in the ice

4 September 2006, Tara has an appointment with a Russian ice-breaker so that it can open up the way. Kapitan Dranitsyn helps Tara to locate a floe (a large expanse of sea ice) sufficiently huge and solid to be able to position itself there.

Premiers pas de la goélette tara positionnée dans la glace.

©Francois Bernard

The highlights

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The Taranaut

Throughout their stationary voyage, a total of 20 Taranauts and two dogs would learn to live on the sea ice. Men and women of a dozen nationalities, all committed to studying, informing, raising awareness and testifying.

La vie des taranautes s'organise sur la banquise.

©Francois Bernard

The highlights

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Men in the cold

The record temperature was -41 °C It is therefore totally out of the question to think of touching a piece of metal with your bare hands, unless you want to leave your skin behind on it.

Deux taranautes au cœur du froid polaire en Arctique.

©Francis Latreille

The highlights

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Tara Arctic polar station

Over the 17 months of drifting, the temperature of air and the ocean, the pressure, the salinity, the intensity of the winds and the sea ice would be gone over with a fine-tooth comb

Suivi scientifique par la station polaire au cœur de la banquise.

©Francis Latreille

The highlights

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The very long night

The last ray of sunshine would be seen by the crew on 18 October 2006, the sun would not rise above the horizon again until early March 2007, after 140 days in the polar night.

Immersion de la goélette pendant 140 jours dans la nuit polaire.

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Claustrophobic atmosphere – for willing castaways

The Taranauts would each find their own way of relaxing in their isolation. During the drift, the closest men were the crew of the space station in orbit that went past every 91 minutes.

Jouer de la musique pendant l'isolement polaire.

©Francis Latreille

The highlights

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Freed from the ice

22 January 2008, Tara arrives in the Longyearbyen fjord in Spitzbergen, Norway. As tradition demands, the 10 crew members lit their distress flares on entering the port.