Discovery of Antarctica 200, Estonian-Russian Joint Issue

1820 was a breakthrough year in the history of the discovery of Antarctica. The continent, which since ancient times had been rumoured to exist, finally was revealed to humankind. Antarctica was first sighted by the Irishman Edward Brasfield, the American Nathaniel Palmer and, as the first, the commanders of the Russian expedition Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev.

Destiny gave Bellingshausen the symbolic role. German by ethnicity and Estonian-born, he was a Russian Navy admiral steeped in British seafaring traditions and possessing international experience.

Bellingshausen is a good vehicle for telling the story that led to an Estonian expedition to Antarctica 200 years later – exploring and caring for the Earth is the great overarching mission for all nations and countries in the 21st century as well.