It might look like just a lot of ... snow ... but the arctic, including these icebergs off Greenland's eastern coast near the arctic circle, are at the center of an escalating dispute among five nations -- Canada, Russia, the United States, Norway and Denmark. The reason is simple ...
These oil barrels in Greenland, Kulusuk are just, well, on the tip of the iceberg. A study by the U.S. Geological Survey estimates that the Arctic could have as much as 25 percent of the world's undiscovered oil and gas.
The latest clash began in August when Russia sent an expedition to the North Pole. Here, the Russian miniature submarine is shown being lowered from the research vessel Akademik Fyodorov. Moments later, it and another mini sub will dive beneath the ice and descend more than 2
The Russians planted the Russian flag on the floor of the Arctic Ocean and, moments later, photographed it. The voyage had some scientific goals, including studies of the climate, geology and biology of the polar region. But its chief aim appears to be to strengthen Russia's legal claims to the Arctic.
The Russian Arctic expedition leader, Artur Chilingarov, held a photo of the Russian flag on the ocean floor upon his arrival at Moscow's Vnukovo airport on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2007
A respected polar scientist and explorer, Chilingarov literally wrapped himself in the Russian flag upon his return -- he is, after all, a Duma deputy (a member of one of Russia's legislative bodies) -- though he perhaps more playfully also held a model of a polar bear.
The next day, Aug. 8, 2007, Stephen Harper, the prime minister of Canada, began a three-day trip to the Arctic -- here in Nahanni National Park Reserve in the Northwest Territories -- as part of Canada's effort to assert its own sovereignty over the region.
On the last day of his trip, on August 10th, the Canadian prime minister announced his country's plan to expand its military presence in the region. Here an old World War II ship, the HMCS Fredericton takes part in a "sovereignty exercise" -- along with a submarine, Canadian coast guard vessel, fighter jets, and 800 soldiers, federal police and Inuit rangers.
"Canada's new government understands that the first principle of Arctic sovereignty is: Use it or lose it," Prime Minister Harper said in Resolute Bay, Nunavut -- just under 370 miles from the North Pole, the second most northern city in the world -- as he announced that Canada will install a new army training center and a deepwater port. Here is an aerial view of Resolute.
Meanwhile, both Danish scientists and American scientists aboard separate icebreakers are heading for the Arctic ice pack. The Danes are seeking evidence to position Denmark in the race to claim ownership. As for the Americans, lead U.S. scientist Larry Mayer said, "There's no flag-dropping on this trip."