Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-05-17
Big Cool Deposits Found
In Sub-Arctic Mountains
Russions Report Major
Geographical Discovery
By Thomos r. Henry


Discovery Of a great range Of sub
Arctic mountains and extremely rich
coal deposits by Russian explorers has
been revealed through the Arctic InSti-
tute Of North America.
For the past decade Russians have
been far more active in exploring and
developing the Arctic than any other
people and now are in the midst Of the
fourth five-year plan for these acti-
vities.
range appears to be one Of the major
geographical discoveries Of this genera
ton.
All Claims Validated.
The Arctic Institute report is gathered
from many sources, both ofhcial and un-
official. but all claims have been vail
dated as far as possible. The mountain
discovery came from unprecedented sum-
mer foods there years ago on tributaries
OF the Indigirka River in eastern Siberia.
The source of this river was q mystery
except that 1t was known TO rise near
the uninhabited region marked on maps
as Oimyakon. long designated as the
coolest spot on earth. This area Is dryer
than the Sahara, yet 1t was pouring out
flood waters.
Russian geologist named Leo Ber-
man and others set out from the Arctic
coast to trace the course OF 1ndigirka
southwark. They travelled on horseback
There were no guides. The Yakut, the
Eskimo-like coast natives. never had
followed the river for more than few
miles.
Find Mountain Range.
The explorers finally came to noun
tain range 95 miles long and about 40
miles wide. with go major peaks and
numerous glaciers, in an area where no
mountains had been expected. Some OF
the peaks were more than 5000 feet in
altitude, making them the Hottest in
Northern Asia. The mountain goats
showed no fear Of man. They allowed
the explorers to come within q few feet
before running away. This was clear
evidence. Berman and his followers be-
lieve. that they were the FIRST human
beings in these mountains. Lack Of fear
of humans is characteristic of animals
everywhere before their first contacts.
The range has been named Suntar
Khayata. The floods apparently were
caused by glacier melting during an UNI
precedentedly warm summer.
A major activity has been the develop
ment Of coal deposits along the Pechora
River. east Of Archangel The reserves
have been estimated as high as 100000
100000 tons. The new shafts recently
have been sunk with an annual capacity
of about million tons. This makes the
region the most important Russian coal
source. The chief source in the past has
been In the Ukraine. The development
has necessitated the building of new rail-
roads. Hitherto 1t has been necessary
to ship this coal 900 miles down the
Pechora River to Archangel.
Soil Studied by Experts.
The dream of agricultural development
in the far north still is very much with
the Russians. Several expeditions OF
biologists and soil experts are being sent
out every summer to study the poten-
tialities of the country where there is
frost throughout the year few feet be-
low the surface. Other expeditions are
being sent to study the ways Of life of
the Chukchi. an Eskimo-like people who
are the most numerous Inhabitants OF
the Siberian Arctic.
Intensive efforts are being devoted to
exploration Of the Kola peninsula. which
cAJeIluS ike CIOOhcQ llLlBcE Oh tSuoSid
northern coast. Supposedly a perma-
nently ice-covered land, little attention
has been given 1t in the past. Other ex-
petitions are studying the interior OF
the group Of four mountainous Arctic
islands known as Nova Zembla. These
constitute probably the least known
major land masses in the world. but
might constitute important military
bases in future war. part of which was
waged in the Arctic. During the last war
fighting extended as far as the Kola
peninsula.
The major Russian problem in future
intensive settlement of the Arctic 1t Is
stressed. is to find diet suitable to
Europeans.