07.06.09

An international expedition along the Silk Road, headed by Russian traveller Fedor Konyukhov, has covered half of its route across Mongolia (1,500 kilometers) now.

Unfortunately, the expedition had to leave one of its camels behind. The camel injured its leg and became very weak and absolutely helpless in the highlands under conditions of food shortages. The expedition decided to leave the camel at one of the stopover sites in the highlands in the hope that local people would nurse the camel to help it survive.

For a week the caravan had been moving up narrow paths in the Sayan Mountains at the altitude of up to 2,800 meters. The expedition includes 12 animal teamsters and travelers from Russia and Mongolia, 12 camels and 15 horses.

To cover the highland route faster the expedition has been moving from dawn until sunset; the camels cannot even grease properly, but taking a day of rest at the altitude of even 2,500 meters is pointless, Konyukhov said. There is a shortage of food and water. People exposed to winds in the highlands feel uncomfortable there. The winds, coming mostly from the north, are blowing the expedition in the face. Not a single wind so far had come from the Gobi desert in the south, Konyukhov said.

Since Sunday the expedition has been descending to a plateau situated at the altitude of 1,000 meters, where the caravan intends to make a daylong stopover to let the animals regain strength. On Monday the Konyukhov expedition has reached a salt lake where the expedition will rest for one day. After going trough the plateau the caravan will go up the southern slopes of the Altai Mountains. Then, the expedition will cross the Russo- Mongolian state border and will cross into Russia's expanses. All-in-all the caravan is to go through three mountain zones in the south of the Sayan, Altai and the Urals mountains.

The international expedition along the Silk Road is devoted to the 400th anniversary since the Kalmyk people voluntarily became part of Russia. The expedition is to reach the terminal point - the Kalmyk capital of Elista, in five months' time.

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Source: Itar-Tass