The Arctic: land of ice and the midnight sun; irresistible goal for explorers and adventurers; enduring source of romance and mystery - and now also a poignant and imperative indicator of the impact of climate change. As the ice cap shrinks, the geography of the entire arctic region changes: clear shipping channels replace immovable ice and inaccessible oil resources become available._x000D__x000D_What are the long-term consequences of these cataclysmic changes - not only environmental but also political and social? How will the lives of those who depend on the natural resources of the Arctic