Natural resources of the Arctic
Encyclopedia
Natural resources of the Arctic are the mineral and animal resources within the Arctic
region (sometimes defined as north of the Arctic Circle
) that provide or have potential to provide utility or economic benefit to humans. The Arctic contains significant amounts of minerals, boreal forest, marine life and fresh water.
estimates that 22 percent of the world's oil and natural gas could be located beneath the Arctic.
In the area of the Arctic north of the Atlantic
, extensive commercial fisheries and international managerial mechanisms already exist. North of the Bering Strait
, there are currently no significant commercial fisheries and no international management mechanisms.
Arctic
The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost...
region (sometimes defined as north of the Arctic Circle
Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. For Epoch 2011, it is the parallel of latitude that runs north of the Equator....
) that provide or have potential to provide utility or economic benefit to humans. The Arctic contains significant amounts of minerals, boreal forest, marine life and fresh water.
Hydrocarbons
The United States Geological SurveyUnited States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
estimates that 22 percent of the world's oil and natural gas could be located beneath the Arctic.
Fisheries
The range of some sub-Arctic fish stocks is likely to extend into Arctic areas due to climate change, and decreasing ice-cover will likely lead to more fishing activity. Scientific understanding of Arctic fish populations is limited and needs to be studied before increased Arctic fishing occurs.In the area of the Arctic north of the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
, extensive commercial fisheries and international managerial mechanisms already exist. North of the Bering Strait
Bering Strait
The Bering Strait , known to natives as Imakpik, is a sea strait between Cape Dezhnev, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia, the easternmost point of the Asian continent and Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska, USA, the westernmost point of the North American continent, with latitude of about 65°40'N,...
, there are currently no significant commercial fisheries and no international management mechanisms.
See also
- List of mines in the Northwest Territories
- :Category:Mines in Nunavut
- :Category:Mines in Yukon
- :Category:Mining in Alaska
- :Category:Mining in Greenland
- Arctic Ocean#Animal and plant life
- Petroleum exploration in the ArcticPetroleum exploration in the ArcticThe exploration of the Arctic for petroleum is more technically and physically challenging than for any other environment. However, with increases in technology and continuing high oil prices the region is now receiving the interest of the petroleum industry....
- Arctic cooperation and politicsArctic Cooperation and PoliticsArctic cooperation and politics are partially coordinated via the Arctic Council, composed of the eight Arctic nations of the United States of America, Canada, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and Denmark with Greenland and The Faroe Islands...