Shirshov Petr Petrovich 
(15(25).12.1905–17.02.1953)

Soviet oceanographer and hydrobiologist, polar explorer, statesman, academician of the USSR Academy of Sciences (1939), Hero of the Soviet Union. 
He was born in Yekaterinoslav (now Dnepropetrovsk) in the family of a railway printer printer, received his primary education in Dnepropetrovsk Real School. 
Very early, and first of all, thanks to his father, a book lover who had been engaged in self-education all his life, the boy showed a love for the biological sciences. Brem's Animal Life was a reference book in their home. Shirshov received his higher education first at the Dnipropetrovsk Institute of Public Education (later Dnipropetrovsk University), then at Odessa University and, finally, again at the Dnipropetrovsk Institute, which he graduated in 1929. 
Having received a diploma, Shirshov with recommendations to Professor V.Yu.Vize arrived in Leningrad and went to work at the Botanical Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences, where he worked until 1935. In the period 1931-1936 part-time employee of the Arctic Institute. 
Deciding to do science, Shirshov understood that he would not succeed in doing a desk scientist. Not that nature. 
Shirshov was a member of sea expeditions to the Arctic on the icebreaker steamer "A. Sibiryakov”(1932), the steamboat Chelyuskin (1933–1934) and the drift at the first Soviet drifting station North Pole (1937–1938). For participation in the last expedition he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union (medal number 74). 
In 1938-1939 Shirshov headed the All-Union Arctic Institute, in 1939–1941. He worked as the first deputy head of Glavsevmorput. In the early years of the war, he became authorized by the USSR State Defense Committee, performing responsible government tasks. It was during the war years that the best features of Shirshov as an organizer and leader emerged. In 1942–1948 he served as National Commissioner, then Minister of the Navy of the USSR. From 1946 he headed the Institute of Oceanology of the USSR Academy of Sciences, created by him; became the chairman of the Pacific Scientific Committee (1946–1950), was a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the 1st and 2nd convocations. 
The main scientific works of Shirshov are devoted to the study of the plankton of the polar seas. He proved the inaccuracy of the hypothesis about the lifelessness of the Arctic Ocean in high latitudes, discovered a number of regularities in the distribution of warm waters from the North Atlantic into the Arctic basin. 
Awarded 3 orders of Lenin, 2 orders of the Red Banner of Labor, the Order of the Red Star and the Order of the Badge of Honor, as well as medals. 
Life Shirshov ended tragically. In 1946, his wife, film actress Yevgenia Garkusha, who was famous for playing the main female role in the famous film "Elusive Yan" in those years, was arrested on charges of speculation. As it turned out, the beautiful Garkusha attracted Beria. They fabricated the case and brought Garkush to Lubyanka closer to the apartments of the all-powerful minister. She later died in a camp in the High North. Grief shaken Shirshov. Soon he had a malignant tumor, he died a painful death, before he was 50 years old. 
He was buried in Moscow at the Novodevichy cemetery. Not far from him, in due time, the grave and his colleagues on the famous drift also went to the grave. 
Bay on the island of George Land archipelago Franz Josef Land. The name was given by Soviet cartographers in the 1960s. 
Lake on the island of Harley archipelago Franz Josef Land. The name was given by the decision of the Arkhangelsk Regional Executive Committee of August 26, 1963.