Lena river delta
Lena is the most important river flowing northward and pouring its waters in Arctic Sea. Its enormous delta (400 Km wide). The area is almost inhabited by humans but hosts numerous species of birds, fish, and other animals, making it one of the most important eco-region in the world. In 1995 this area became the largest protected region in Russia (Lena Delta Wildlife Reserve), but the area is endangered by the increasing demand for oil. Recent surveys gave evidence that both the delta and in the neighbouring Laptev Sea lie atop big reserves of oil and gas.
River deltas
The formation of river deltas with peculiar shapes can be modelled on the basis of simple physical equations governing water and sediment flow and erosion processes. Different shapes can arise depending on the “dominant” shaping factor among river flow, tides and waves.
Other areas of oil exploitation in the Arctic
Several areas around Arctic are subject to intensive exploitation of mineral, oil and gas resources; such activities are leaving an increasingly large footprint on this fragile environment. Prudhoe Bay , Alaska is a good example, with thousands of wells, pipelines and other infrastructures crossing this once wild land.
“Oriented” Artic lakes
Not so surprisingly, Lena river delta and Prudhoe Bay areas feature the same typology of “polygonal” and quite well aligned lakes. The origin of such a curious shape is still matter of debate; some scientists say that their shape and orientation is regulated by “preferential” thawing modulated by the regional topographic aspect , some others think that prevailing summer winds have an important role in the lakes orientation.
Download image (1018 KB) The industrial port of Tiksi, on Arctic Sea, close to the Lena river delta-
Download image (944 KB), An industrial plant
in Alaskan tundra, close to Prudhoe Bay
Download image (925 KB) Prudhoe Bay Alaska. “Squared”aligned thaw lakes, oil extraction plants, pipelines and roads
Download
image (1150 KB) Thaw lakes in Alaska and Siberia
feature a pretty well defined alignment Land<< back