Mikhail Somov
Mikhail Mikhailovich Somov was a Soviet oceanologist, polar explorer, Doctor of Geographical Sciences.
Somov graduated from the Russian State [Hydrometeorological University|Moscow Hydrometeorological Institute] in 1937. In 1939, he was appointed senior researcher at the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute. In 1950–1951, Mikhail Somov headed a drift-ice station North Pole-2. In 1955–1957, he became the commander of the Soviet Antarctic Expedition|first] Soviet Antarctic Expedition. Mikhail Somov was also the first Soviet delegate to the Scientific [Committee on Antarctic Research].
The Somov Sea north of Victoria Land and a glacier in Queen Maud Land bear Mikhail Somov's name, as well as a scientific icebreaker. A minor planet 3334 Somov discovered by Czech astronomer Antonín Mrkos in 1981 is named after him. Somov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union in 1952.