Management of Cryosols - Cryopedology - page 160

Fig. 13.1 Farming on permafrost near Bethel, western Alaska ( http://www.neatorama.com )

13.2.2 Land Degradation

Land degradation issues in the Arctic include chemical pollution from mining, oil
and gas extraction, and long-distance transport of persistent organic pollutants
(POPs), heavy metals, radionuclides, and acidifying gases; removal of taiga for-
ests; loss of biodiversity; removal of sand and gravel for access roads and pads for
pumping stations; and fl ooding from hydroelectric development (UNEP 1997 ). Of
major concern is the impact of these activities on indigenous peoples residing in
the Arctic. Figure 13.2 shows the Meadowbank gold mine near Baker Lake,
Nunavut, Canada, an area underlain by permafrost. Figure 13.3 shows an oil spill
near Usinsk in the Komi Republic of Russia. Figure 13.4 shows collapse of a road
in permafrost in interior Alaska.

13.3 Alpine Regions with Permafrost

13.3.1 Land Use

The high mountain regions have been used primarily for mining, recreation, limited
agriculture, and highway-railway construction. Peter the Great issued a “mining
privilege” in 1719 so that gold and silver mining took place as early as 1733-1735 in
the Altai Mountains. Mining also accounts for the location of several of the world's
highest “villages,” including La Rinconada, Peru (5,100 m; gold), Pascu-Lama,