The Arctic has fascinated people with its mysteries since time immemorial. The enigmatic aurora borealis enticed the tireless travellers to challenge the icy realm, and the scientists – to grasp the laws ruling this top-of-the-world country. In the 21st century the Arctic is becoming a subject for various-level scientific and public debates. Ecology, natural resources, [...]

The polar bear is the biggest land mammal predator. It grows up to 3 meters in length and up to 800 kilos in weight. It lives in polar areas of the Northern hemisphere. Its circumpolar habitation stretches up to 88º latitude to the North, towards Newfoundland in the South, and throughout the Arctic desert to the Arctic tundra on the continent.

As no claims to the Arctic Ocean territories have been officially recognized, all coastal states make statements, asserting their unique position in ensuring environmental protection in their respective area, as cover for their territorial claims.

The Russian Geographical Society began opening up and studying polar territories in 1846, only a year after the Society had been founded.

The Arctic Council was created in 1996. The Council’s members include Denmark, Iceland, Canada, Norway, Russia, the USA, Finland, Sweden and a number of non-governmental organizations.

The population of the Arctic is over 4 million people. Some countries and territories – Iceland, Greenland, the Faeroe Islands – are entirely Arctic areas. In other countries – Russia, Canada, the USA, Norway, Sweden and Finland – only a small part of the population lives within the region.

The Arctic, not to mention the planet in general, has been warming for three hundred years. However, over the last fifty years it has been most likely related to human activities.

The Arctic Shelf is one of the richest in natural resources area. Its proven fuel supply consists mainly of natural gas (about 30% of the world supply). The oil supply is about 83 billion barrels, or 10-15 % of the world supply.

At present, territory and boundaries of the Arctic are not legally defined. International law delineates the Arctic as the region around the Earth’s North Pole bound by the Arctic Circle (66°33’North latitude). However, there is no such international agreement that would give a universally accepted definition of “the Arctic”.