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AP Photo / Alexander Zemlianichenko
The Russian Arctic expedition leader, Artur Chilingarov, a well-known polar scientist, holds a photo of the Russian
flag recently dropped on the Arctic Ocean floor.
MOSCOW, Russia (Achieve 3000, August 2, 2007). Two small Russian submarines have planted their
nation's flag on the Arctic Ocean floor, beneath the North Pole. While the voyage was considered an empty
gesture by leaders of other nations, the move could kick off a legal fight for what might be profuse oil and gas
reserves under the thick Arctic pack ice.
The submarines dove beneath 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) of ocean to the Arctic shelf. There, they collected
geologic and water samples. They also dropped a container that held the flag. After spending most of the day
below water, the subs surfaced near the pole, guided by radio beacons on the edges of a huge hole in the thick
ice.
"It was so good down there," said expedition leader Artur Chilingarov, 68, a distinguished polar scientist. "If
someone else goes down there in 100 or 1,000 years, he will see our Russian flag."
The symbolic claim, if recognized, would give Russia control of almost half the Arctic seabed, or more than
460,000 square miles (1,100,000 square kilometers).
Little is known about the ocean floor near the North Pole, but some scientists think it could contain major oil
and gas deposits. Several other nations, though, including the U.S., Canada, Norway, and Denmark, through its
territory Greenland, are also maintaining their rights in the harsh region.
Peter Mackay, Canada's minister of foreign affairs, dismissed the voyage to the Arctic floor as "just a show."
Mackay added that his nation's claim to the Arctic is well established. "Look, this isn't the 15th century," he
said, according to Canadian Television's Web site. "You can't go around the world and just plant flags and say
'We're claiming this territory.'"
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the expedition should boost Russia's claim that the Eurasian
continental shelf, which it controls, extends to the North Pole. He added that the question of which nations will
control wealth from the region "will be resolved in strict compliance with international law."
The subs and their three-member crews each spent about an hour in the murky depths, studying water
chemistry, biology, and geology. Researchers also used the dive to help map the Lomonosov ridge. The 1,240mile (1,996-kilometer) underwater mountain range crosses the polar region and was discovered by the Soviets
in 1948.
Expedition organizers said the greatest risk was being trapped under the ice and running out of air. Each of the
two subs, which had 72-hour air supplies, spent about 40 minutes on the sea floor, said Sergei Balyasnikov, a
spokesman for Russia's Institute of the Arctic and Antarctic, which organized the expedition.
The move wasn't the first Russian attempt to assert control over the region. In December 2001, Moscow
claimed that the Lomonosov ridge was an extension of the Eurasian continent and part of Russia's continental
shelf. The U.N. rejected Moscow's claim, but Russia plans to resubmit it in 2009.
Tom Casey, a U.S. State Department spokesman, said that the Russian government was entitled to submit its
claim, but he dismissed the importance of planting a flag in the North Pole seabed. "I'm not sure whether they
put a metal flag, a rubber flag, or a bedsheet on the ocean floor," Casey said. "Either way it doesn't have any
legal standing."
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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Dig Deeper
Does Russia control the North Pole region? Not according to Canadian officials. In December 2013, they
announced plans to make a claim to the Pole. In fact, several nations are interested in the North Pole, but as of
2013, no one had officially claimed it. That's because according to international law, planting a flag at the
bottom of the ocean has minimal significance.
Who Controls the Sea?
Nations like to lay claim to the sea because it provides them with shipping rights for trade. It also gives them
the rights to any resources that might exist under the water, like fish or oil. Being able to stake a claim in the
Arctic has the potential to be extremely valuable. Experts say that the region contains 30 percent of the world's
undiscovered natural gas and 15 percent of its oil.
But how do you decide which nation gets to claim the right to the seas? Claims to sea rights are handled by the
Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS). The commission follows an international
agreement called the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. This agreement establishes the rights
and responsibilities nations have in their use of the oceans. It also states that nations have rights to the
resources in the waters up to 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) from their coasts. It's not enough for a nation
to put a flag under the sea to claim the North Pole, as Russia did. A nation must prove that it is close enough to
the Pole to deserve this right.
How Can a Nation Claim More of the Sea?
If a nation can prove that its part of the continental shelf—the land that lies underwater around the edges of a
continent—extends beyond 200 nautical miles, then it can expand its claims. That is precisely what Canada
hopes to prove. Doing so will involve undersea mapping. The maps will likely show coordinates of the North
American continental shelf in relation to the North Pole. Canada will then submit a proposal to the CLCS. It
will be up to the commission to study the maps and determine whether Canada's claim is valid.
What About Russia?
Russian leaders are not pleased with Canada's plans. Shortly after Canada made its announcement, Russian
President Vladimir Putin said that he planned to put more military bases in the Arctic region of Russia. The
purpose, he said, was to protect Russia's national interests.
But experts say that it could take years to resolve competing claims over the Arctic region. In addition, the
Arctic's remote location and harsh climate mean that it would be very difficult to reach any undersea oil and
gas that the area holds.
"We're talking about the center of a large, inhospitable ocean that is in total darkness for three months each
year, thousands of miles from any port," said Michael Byers. He is an expert on international law. "The water
in the North Pole is 12,000 feet (3,650 meters) deep and will always be covered by sea ice in the winter. It's not
a place where anyone is going to be drilling for oil and gas."
But Canada's claim appears to be a political one, not just an economic one. Claiming the North Pole is like
being the first nation to land on the moon. There may be no immediate reward in it, other than national pride.
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1.
Consider this quote from the article:
 "It was so good down there," said expedition leader Artur Chilingarov, 68, a distinguished polar
scientist. "If someone else goes down there in 100 or 1,000 years, he will see our Russian flag."
In light of the main ideas of this article, what caused Artur Chilingarov to make such a public statement?

He hoped that his nation would be getting energy resources from the region for years to come.

He hoped that his nation would be recognized as the rightful owner of the region for years to come.

He hoped that his nation would be honored for its decision to explore the region for years to come.

He hoped that his nation would be actively exploring the region for years to come.
2. Which is the closest antonym for the word profuse?

Spontaneous

Sparse

Squeamish

Stealthy
3. In what way are Russia and Canada similar?

Both Russia and Canada believe they have the right to brag about their discoveries, based on geography.

Both Russia and Canada believe they have the right to do scientific research, based on geography.

Both Russia and Canada believe they have the right to control shipping in the area, based on geography.

Both Russia and Canada believe they have the right to North Pole energy reserves, based on geography.
4. What is this article mainly about?

Several nations are now staking claims to the Arctic because energy reserves are believed to lie there.

Several nations are now staking claims to the Arctic because of its vast, mysterious, open spaces.

Several nations are now staking claims to the Arctic because scientists are now able to map it.

Several nations are now staking claims to the Arctic because each country now houses an energy reserve there.
5. The article states:
Little is known about the ocean floor near the North Pole, but some scientists think it could contain
major oil and gas deposits. Several other nations, though, including the U.S., Canada, Norway, and
Denmark, through its territory Greenland, are also maintaining their rights in the harsh region.
The author's purpose in writing this passage was to __________.

Tell readers that, while Russia has geographic interests in the territory, other nations are avoiding the area

Tell readers that, while Russia has explored the territory, other nations have also sent researchers there

Tell readers that, while Russia has put a flag in the region, the ownership of the area is still contested

Tell readers that, while Russia has claimed the territory, the assertion will someday be challenged
6. Which of these is most important to include in a summary of this article?

A description of the economic and scientific benefits of exploring the harsh, unforgiving region

An explanation of the time spent beneath the water and the concerns about resurfacing before the air supply was
gone

An explanation of the technologies that may enable scientists to survive in the area's harsh climate

A description of the nations located in the region and what steps they have taken to claim the Arctic bed
7. The article states:
He added that the question of which nations will control wealth from the region "will be resolved in
strictcompliance with international law."
Which would be the closest synonym for the word compliance?

Continuity

Observance

Remittance

Indulgence
8. Which of these statements is contrary to the ideas presented in this article?

Russia's claim to the Arctic region is one of several historical and geographic claims.

Russia's claim to the Arctic region is based on its geographic proximity to the area.

Russia's claim to the Arctic region is of interest to other nations bordering the region.

Russia's claim to the Arctic region is not contested by other nations in the area.