Siberia's Permafrost Melting

Posted by Amanda Kendle Oct 15, 2006

Researchers from UCLA recently released long-term study results that spell bad news both environmentally and for travelers to the wilder areas of Siberia. Despite the fact that large parts of Siberia are covered in permafrost - which sounds, after all, kind of permanent - it turns out that it's melting, and fast. In the last 30 years, for example, a comparison of satellite pictures shows that the total area of lakes has increased by over 12 percent. In some towns, buildings have started to tilt and sink as the solid ground of permafrost starts to give way. And, the researchers say, traveling around in Siberia is getting more difficult. In many parts, the real winter season is the easiest for moving about, when the ground is completely frozen - but the time frame for this season is shrinking each year. Not good news for the locals and not good news for us travelers, and another reason to increase our environmental awareness ...