· A Threshold to the Arctic
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
· Looking Ahead

Global 200 Snapshot

The Lena River Delta is an unusual arctic delta and an important area for nesting and migrating birds.  

A Threshold to the Arctic

Hear the word "Siberia" and you probably think of a cold, empty place. Few parts of the planet are as wild and uninhabited by humans as this part of Russia. But Siberia is far from deserted. Just one small part of it, the Lena River Delta, is a haven for numerous species of birds, fish, and other animals.

Special Features

The Lena River is one of the longest rivers in the world. From a small mountain lake in southern Russia, the Lena flows north for 2,800 miles (4,400 km). Along its course lie forests, meadows, valleys, and rocky hills. Just before pouring into the Laptev Sea, the Lena splits into several small rivers that flow through a flat plain to create the Lena River Delta. This arctic ecoregion experiences seven months of winter before the snow-covered frozen tundra transforms into fertile wetlands.

	Without the Lena River, the Laptev Sea couldn't do its job. The shallow Laptev gets much of its water from the Lena and, in winter, produces huge amounts of ice. The ice drifts across the Arctic Ocean and melts after a few years. This process helps maintain stable ocean temperatures and circulation throughout the northern parts of the planet.

Wild Side

Swans, divers, geese, ducks, plovers, sandpipers, snipes, phalaropes, terns, skuas, birds of prey, passerines (songbirds), and gulls are only some of the migratory birds that breed in this productive wetland. The rich delta also supports abundant populations of fish and five marine mammals. Some scientists think that fish of the genus Coregonus, called ciscos, originated here. Species found in the delta include the Arctic, tugun, sardine, peled, and muksun ciscos, as well as broad whitefish. Spawning fish reported from the delta include Arctic lamprey and burbot.

Cause for Concern

A protected area called the Lena Delta Reserve was expanded in 1995, making it the largest protected area in Russia (24,400 square miles, or 61,000 square kilometers). This large expanse offers protection to the abundant wildlife of the delta. However, overfishing, particularly of cisco populations within the refuge, is reportedly a concern. Outside of the reserve, mining, forestry, grazing, expanding agricultural activities, water diversion for irrigation, and pollution from fertilizers and pesticides may threaten the quality and quantity of water that reaches the delta.

Looking Ahead

Check back soon for more about the conservation of this ecoregion.