Ojosdelsalado2012 MedExpedition

In 1937 two Poles (Jan Alfred Szczepański and Justyn Wojsznis) made a first ascent to the summit of Ojos del Salado, the highest volcano in the world – 6,898 meters (22,615 ft) on the Argentina-Chile border. Our team, in the 75th anniversary of this event, once again wants Polish names to be engraved in the history of conquerors. We intend to conduct a pioneering project, combining medicine, diving and exploration. On the eastern side of Ojos del Salado there is a permanent crater lake about 100 meters in diameter at an elevation of 6,390 meters (20,960 ft). The lake is still unexplored. It is believed to be the highest situated lake in the world. We intend to reach the lake by a new route and make accurate measurements and examine the physicochemical properties of water. We would like also to make a few scuba dives in the lake, trying to break the Guinness world record for the highest altitude diving. Our doctor will conduct research on the physiology of the human body in high altitude conditions and in extreme diving conditions. We plan to make additional dives in the two lower-lying lakes and shoot some underwater photos and movie. Probably for the first time in the world. The culmination of the project is to bring back the Polish flag to the top of Ojos del Salado in the 75th anniversary of the first ascent.

Objectives of the project:

  • reaching the highest body of liquid water in the World (unnamed lake below the summit of Ojos del Salado, on the border of Chile and Argentina – altitude approx. 6 390 m.a.s.l.)
    exploration, measurements, (size, shape, depth) and physicochemical properties
  • scuba diving in the highest lake in the world
    setting a Guiness World Record (first scuba dive at altitude above 6 000 m.a.s.l.)
  •  establishing a new route – traversing Ojos del Salado to reach the lake
  • conducting pioneering medical research concerning human physiology while diving at extreme altitudes – a series of dives in lakes above 4 000 m.a.s.l. is planned
  • summiting the peak of Ojos del Salado (6 891 m.a.s.l.) – the highest volcano in the world on the 75th anniversary of first ascent by Polish climbers (A. Szczepański, J. Wojsznis)

Expedition dates: March 10 – April 3, 2012