A new exhibition, Territory of Courage, dedicated to outstanding Latvian adventurers and their world-class achievements, has opened in the passenger terminal of Riga Airport. Located in the connecting gallery leading to Departure Gates C, the exhibition features Kārlis Bardelis’ ocean rowing boat and large-format mountain photographs by mountaineers Kristīne and Kristaps Liepiņš. The display is complemented by films about the journeys of Bardelis and the Liepiņš couple, shown on video screens.
The centerpiece of the exhibition is the rowing boat Linda, which Kārlis Bardelis used to complete a unique journey around the globe. As part of his Bored of Borders project, between 2016 and 2024 he rowed more than 46,000 kilometres over 2,898 days, without the use of a motor or sails. During this journey, he crossed multiple oceans and became the first person in the world to row solo across the Pacific Ocean from South America to Asia. Six of his achievements have been recognised by Guinness World Records.
Territory of Courage area also features large-format mountain photographs by mountaineers Kristaps Liepiņš and Kristīne Liepiņa. They are the only couple in the world to have climbed together the nine highest peaks in South America, and Kristīne is the only female mountaineer to have achieved this feat. In total, they have climbed more than 300 peaks across five continents, 22 of which are higher than 5,500 metres and are considered high-altitude peaks.
The choice of Riga Airport as the venue for the exhibition is no coincidence. “Riga Airport is a place where the world’s air routes meet, where dreams are dreamt and ideas are born. That is why the airport is the ideal place to discover two remarkable stories about courageous dreams that most of us would never even dare to dream. May the stories told in this Territory of Courage inspire everyone to look up towards the peaks, feel the freedom of the ocean and the spirit of adventure, and set ambitious goals beyond the ordinary,” said Laila Odiņa, Chairperson of the Board of Riga Airport, at the exhibition’s opening ceremony.
Territory of Courage was created at Riga Airport in cooperation with the association Bored of Borders.