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Journey to the Kara Sea: Leaving land

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Little is known about the polar bears, walrus and whales of Russia’s Kara Sea. This spring, WWF sponsored an expedition to this remote Arctic sea, for a preliminary survey (read part 1 here). Dmitry Ryabov of WWF-Russia reports:

We load into two helicopters – next stop, latitude 80.

Helicopter used in Kara Sea expedition © Dmitry Ryabov / WWF-RussiaHelicopter used in Kara Sea expedition © Dmitry Ryabov / WWF-Russia

But first, we attach a GoPro!

Attaching GoPro to the helicopter © Dmitry Ryabov / WWF-RussiaAttaching GoPro to the helicopter © Dmitry Ryabov / WWF-Russia

Before we say goodbye to the land and head out to sea, we land in the middle of the tundra for refueling.  Drums of fuel mar the view – a legacy of the Soviet era.

Drums of fuel on the Russian tundra © Dmitry Ryabov / WWF-RussiaDrums of fuel on the Russian tundra © Dmitry Ryabov / WWF-Russia

The locals tell us these dogs have been here all winter, on their own. What they ate remains a mystery, but we suspect they hunted Arctic foxes, which are found in these parts. Dogs are a constant presence at Arctic stations, so no doubt we’ll meet more furry friends on this trip.

Dogs at a refueling station near the Kara Sea, Russia. © Dmitry Ryabov / WWF-RussiaDogs at a refueling station near the Kara Sea, Russia. © Dmitry Ryabov / WWF-Russia

Fueled up, we head out to the Kara Sea. Even for us, people who have spent much of our lives in the Arctic, the vast ice desert is mesmerizing.

Read part 3 >

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