Akademik Fedorov made news on 1 August 2007, when it sailed in the path of an
icebreaker on the way to the
North Pole as part of Russia's efforts to lay claim to the
sea bed beneath the North Pole. On 2 August 2007,
Akademik Fedorov sailed with 100 scientists and researchers and two deep sea mini-submarines to the North Pole where the scientists were dispatched to a depth of more than where they dropped a titanium capsule containing a Russian
flag. While the dropping of the flag was a symbolic gesture reminiscent of the
United States of America's planting of an American flag on the surface of the
Moon, the act does not guarantee Russian rights to extract
oil and
gas from the
sea bed. Accordingly, scientists aboard
Akademik Fedorov were searching for evidence that a underwater mountain range, the Lomonosov Ridge, which extends through the north polar region, is actually a
geologic extension of Russia, thus allowing Russia to lay claim to the region under the
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Denmark contends that the
Lomonosov Ridge is a geologic extension of
Greenland, a Danish territory, whereas
Canada claims it is an extension of
Ellesmere Island. The Danish and Canadian governments are expected to put forth their own scientific efforts to show that the Lomonosov Ridge is not part of Russia. Both the United States and Canada also maintain oil and gas rights within the region. ==See also==