Wu Jun (R), the crew leader of the fourth Chinese scientific expedition team, and Yu Xingguang, a scientist, pose for a group photo at the North Pole, Aug. 20, 2010. The Chinese fourth expedition team arrived at the North Pole on 15:38 pm (0738 GMT) Friday, which is the northernmost location ever reached by Chinese scientific expeditions. [Xinhua] |
A group of Chinese scientists reached the North Pole on Friday afternoon, extending their research on the Arctic Ocean to Earth's northernmost point.
Fourteen Chinese scientists were flown in by helicopter from icebreaker the Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, which carried a Chinese exploration team and reached a point at 88.22 degrees north latitude and 177.20 degrees west longitude.
The Chinese scientists' arrival point marks the Arctic Ocean's furthest north they have ever reached.
The scientists carried out a series of research activities at the Pole, including collecting sea ice and seawater samples and ecological observation.