Arctic Contrasts: Canada and Russia in the Far North

Abstract

Soviet far north has an area only twice that of Arctic Canada, yet it maintains 30 times as many people. To a person only barely acquainted with Canada's arctic aims and achievements, a first encounter with Russian efforts in their zone can be a serious shock. Canada is justly proud of the recent achievement by icebreakers in making the North-west passage rapidly and easily, yet the Russian equivalent, the Northeast passage, is monopolized by Glavsevsmorput (The Northern Sea Route Administration), which in 1956 was operating 15 icebreakers, 100 ocean-going freighters, 150 aircraft, and 35,000 employees. This shipping group operates entirely in Arctic waters and handles up to 2,000,000 tons of freight in a season. It even operates its own Arctic coal mines to fuel some steamers. The apparent contrast is with Canada's Department of Transport convoys, wherein two or three Canadian icebreakers escort a few chartered ships into the various trading posts and weather stations reckoned accessible by current technique. Excluding the Churchill grain trade of about 100,000 tons, only a dozen vessels may be involved in the Eastern Arctic, handling a few thousands of tons of supplies. Contrast also the Soviet efforts in the Arctic basin. Canada's