Introduction to the Far North:  Much of the far north enjoys a mild climate that supports the largest forest in the world.  Indigenous people have inhabited the Arctic for centuries, and numerous land animals make the tundra their home.  The dominant geographic feature is the ocean, which mitigates the harsh weather, provides food for indigenous people, and facilitates transportation into the far north.  Arctic warming permits construction of New National Parks and offers visitors unique recreational opportunities in the far north.

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Challenges and Opportunities in the Artic:  Rapid warming in the far north creates regional and global challenges. These challenges include rapid melting of the polar ice, competition for natural resources, an emerging military frontier, increased tourism, new maritime trade routes, and governance of indigenous peoples.  Each challenge presents governments and industries with new and creative opportunities.

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Iceland:  The Land of Ice and Fire:  Volcanic eruptions that created Iceland’s spectacular landscapes began only 20 million years ago.  Nearly two dozen active volcanos continue to add ash and lava to the island.  Numerous glaciers have carved deep coastal fjords and long valleys through the volcanic landscape, and the twin forces of fire and ice continue to shape the majestic scenery of the Icelandic countryside.

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Greenland and the Geopolitics of Melting Ice:  Greenland is covered by a sheet of ice which is melting rapidly.  Melting exposes previously undiscovered mineral resources including oil, rare earth metals, and gemstones. As an autonomous Danish territory with limited self-government, Greenland lacks both the ability to develop these resources herself, or to effectively resist resource exploitation by other countries.

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Maritime Norway: is defined by its magnificent coastal geography, marine industries, and seafaring economy.  Norway enjoys an extraordinarily mild climate and welcomes tourists from all over the world to her friendly culture and spectacular scenery.

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The Age of the Vikings:  In the first century CE, Norse sailors left Denmark, Norway and Sweden and spread out across Europe.  Traveling in wooden sailing vessels called long-ships, they explored and established trading posts as far west as North America and as far south as the Black Sea.  The Viking era finally ended with the establishment of royal authority and the acceptance of Christianity as the dominant religion in Scandinavia. 

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The White Sea: is an inlet of the Barents Sea on the northwest coast of Russia. The sea contains an important Russian naval base and the city of Archangel.  A group of islands, known as the Solovetsky Archipelago, is home to a Monastery which became the prototype for the Soviet Gulags.  A man-made canal connects the southern part of the White Sea to St. Petersburg and the Baltic Sea.

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Lighthouses of the Far North:  Lighthouses have played a prominent role in our history, culture, and art.  A visual tour of some of the most beautiful lighthouses in the Arctic and elsewhere illustrates the history, structure, function, and charm of these silent sentinels of the sea.

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Lighthouses of Scotland and Ireland:  Lighthouses have guided ships to safety for thousands of years.  In the process, these structures became cultural icons in many parts of the world as they have exerted a powerful influence of history, art, and even science.  Scotland and Ireland have an especially interesting collection of the some of the most beautiful and famous lighthouses in the world.

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The UNESCO World Heritage Program chooses and protects natural and cultural sites that have outstanding value to the common heritage of humanity.  A descriptive overview of the history of the World Heritage program describes and showcases several current and future World Heritage Sites in the far north.