Ocean Explorers Plant Russian Flag on Arctic Sea Floor

Canada, Russia, the US, Norway and Denmark all have some overlapping claims throughout the Arctic, each hoping to secure a big share of the rich oil, gas and mineral reserves believed to rest under the ice. “Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, a country can secure rights to seabed territory reaching far beyond the 200-mile limit if it can prove that a portion of the ocean floor is geologically linked to its continental shelf.” writes journalist Randy Boswell for CanWest News Service. Scientists are mapping those shelves, but Russia is impatient. Two small Russian subs descended to the sea floor beneath the North Pole, specifically to install Russian flags, protected in titanium cases. “The dive is widely seen as a symbol of Russia's determination to claim ownership, under the UN Law of the Sea,” explains Boswell. Canada claims the North Pole, but lacks equipment to access it year round. Canadian leaders offered a cool response, describing the Russian feat as mere “show.” Russia can expect a formal, diplomatic reminder from Canada – that flag-planting alone does not provide proof of ownership. And a quandary could emerge for all countries involved should their geological links and continental shelves happen to merge at the disputed point. – YaleGlobal