Evening star., 1950-05-10
Peoy Lond Now Being
Systematically Explored
Expedition Confirms Report
Of Abundance OF Life
BY Thomas 4. Henry

The sarth's northernmost land sys-
tematically is being explored for the frss
time.
This 10 Peary Land. most northerly
part Of Greenland. which was discovered
by Rear Admiral Robert E. Peary in 1891.
but which since then has been visited
only casually by explorers.
A Danish expedition Of six scientists,
under command Of the well-knovn
archeologist, Eigil Knuth. now has spent
its second winter in this bleak country
Of constant gales where the winter tenn
perature averages -26 Fahrenheit. Their
findings to date have Just been reported
to the Arctic Institute Of North America.
Admiral Peary himself was aStonished
ut the apparent abundance OF life so
close to the Pole-especially the great
herds Of musk oxen found grazing IN
what seemed to be green summer pas"
lures. This has been confirmed aoun-
dainty by Prof. Knuth and his aSSo-
ciates. Previous observations have been
confined to brief Sledge Journeys In
summer.
Grass Even In Highlands.
Somewhat paradoxically this land Is
desert where life would be very sparse
II 1t were In temperate climate. There
hardly is any precipitation during the
brief summer. The air actually Is TOO
dry to permit much plant growth.
But the melting Ice in summer-in
July the mean temperature is - Fahren-
heit and the thermometer sometimes
goes up to 60-createS great rivers. along
whose banks are lush meadows OF SeogeS.
dwarf willows and Arctic grasses. Grasses
extend even into the highlands near the
river sources. Altogether, incluolng
moses and lichenS. more than 500 plant
species have been collected by the ex-
pedition.
Animal life is quite varied and album
dant. DR.. Pale johnson Of the expeol-
tion staff is the frst Hoologist ever 10
have visited Peary Land, Practically AL
the species collected represented nortn-
ernmost records Of these creatures, Ot
special interest is freSh-water lake'
Midsummer Sea. in which f1sh-tne Arc
tic char, q species OF trout-are plenn-
full. There has been considerable specu-
lation as to how these creatures hVs
during the long winter when the ice
cover is about 7 feet thick samples
taken from the bottom mud. however
showed it to be rich IN larvae OF mioRes
and these apparently provide fairy
ADunQAnL 1OOu supply
Twenty Birds Identified.
Twenty birds were identified. At least
half of them are known to breed IN
Peary Land and to migrate southwark
during the winter. Some. such as the
snowy owl, may come as far south ~
the Potomac River.
The abundance Of musk oxen was ~
astonishing to the Danish explorers a.
to Admiral Peary. In addition. they
found polar bears, hares. Jennings.
weasels and ringed seals. At the time OK
Peary's visit, Arctic wolves were quite
common. Many also were observed oy
Danish explorers in 1920. The present
party has seen no wolves nor any won
tracks in. the snow. It is assumed that
they have become extinct. This also mas
happened in East Greenland.
Even In mid-winter there Is very
little snow, because Of the scant precipi-
tation. The region is largely one OF bar
rem rock, except for the river valleys
Because Of this. travel by Sledge Is con-
fined largely to the sea ice along the
shores and to the rivers. The snow 10
exceptionally dry. When 1t falls " ire
quently seems like thin drizzle.
The climate apparently is getting
dryer and warmer. In the past there
must have been much more snowfall to
have allowed the accumulation Of the
glaciers, all of which now are retreating.
Measurements Of one show that 1t has
retreated nearly 40 yards in three years.
There now are no human inhabit-
ants, but the Danish explorers have
gathered evidence that Eskimos have
visited the land from time immemorial.
For the most part, it is probable. these
visits have been by nomad hunters:
but there are signs Of extended bivouacS.
Some may have lived permanently in
the country. Among the more impor-
tant finds is a winter house built OF
limestone blocks