CHAPTER 2 



GEOGRAPHIC CHARACTER OF ARCTIC 

 AND SUBARCTIC REGIONS 



"Within the Arctic Circle lies a vast doyyiain of prairies, lakes, forests, 

 mountains, and pack ice." — Stefansson. 



The term arctic is generally associated with ideas of cold, snow, 

 and high latitudes. The detail and validity of the meaning of the 

 word varies from person to person depending on knowledge, 

 experience and specific interests in the region. There are a num- 

 ber of commonly used definitions, each valid in its own right and 

 useful in a particular function. 



For purposes of fleet operations, the Navy considers the Arctic 

 to be those water areas on which ice acts either as a barrier to 

 all navigation, or as a hindrance. The term thus defined does 

 not relate to static global areas. It refers to conditions which 

 may persist or exist from time to time in a number of areas in 

 the high latitudes. 



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