In the clearings of the forest area, especially in the west, agri- 

 culture has developed. Cereals, potatoes and vegetables are being 

 grown. Meadows and pastures are being used to support dairy- 

 herds. Apple growing has been introduced in Siberia and con- 

 siderable production has resulted from these orchards where the 

 trees grow horizontally close to the ground to get protection from 

 the cold by the snow cover and to avoid wind damage. 



Agriculture is neither extensive nor a primary occupation in 

 either the arctic or subarctic areas. However, it forms an inter- 

 esting and necessary part of the economy and life of the region. 



The population of the Soviet Northland is sparse. Efforts to 

 settle the area have not resulted in a great influx of people. The 

 settlements that now exist are of three types : the villages of the 

 nomads whose chief occupation is hunting and fishing ; the perma- 

 nent settlements of the state farms and herds, the sawmills, mines, 

 and ports ; and the polar stations. 



There are few roads connecting these settlements although at- 

 tempts are being made to build roads from the north to tie into 

 the system along the Trans-Siberian Railroad. The rivers are 

 used as summer highways and the dog team and reindeer sledge 

 are the winter modes of transportation. The airplane offers the 

 only other means of transportation and is hindered by fog, diffi- 

 culties of navigation, and lack of suitable landing areas. 



ISOLATED ISLANDS OF GEOGRAPHIC SIGNIFICANCE 



In this section are briefly described certain isolated arctic islands 

 of geographical and possible strategic interest — Jan Mayen, Bear, 

 Novaya Zemlya, Vaigach, Frane Josef Archipelago, New Siberian 

 Islands, and Wrangel. 



To the east of Central East Greenland lies Jan Mayen Island, 

 almost the smallest of arctic islands. Due to the high inactive 

 Beerenberg volcano (7,680 feet high) , this island has a landscape 

 visible from afar and serves as an unmistakable landmark in a sea 

 area in which there are few. The generally poor, sandy, and lava 

 soil, the high winds, and low summer temperatures permit but 

 scanty plant life. Lying at the limit of the pack ice, it has fre- 

 quent fogs. 



"Jan Mayen Island is tiny, only 34 miles long, generally narrow, 

 and so particularly narrow at its center that it nearly has a dumb- 

 bell shape. There is nothing remarkable about it except an in- 

 active volcano that is perhaps the most remarkable in the world, 



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