Skip to comments.Greenland by dog sledge: The Sirius Patrol in numbers
Posted on 11/30/2011 4:52:56 AM PST by decimon
At 40-50kg, Sirius dogs are bred to be heavier and stronger
Since the Cold War, Denmark has staked its claim to northern Greenland - and its untapped mineral wealth - with dog sledge patrols. This is the Sirius Patrol in numbers.
The vast icy expanses at the top of our planet are rich in coal, ore and minerals. Although inhospitable in the extreme, these areas are in demand.
Denmark patrols and protects its sovereignty over Greenland with a small naval unit called the Sirius Patrol. The US Geological Survey estimates the oil reserves off its coast are as big as those in the North Sea.
Each autumn, six dog sledge teams - each manned by two soldiers from the Royal Danish Navy - spend up to six months patrolling an area of 160,000 sq km (60,000 sq miles). They are the only people in a vast wilderness about three times the size of Denmark.
During winter the sun disappears for two months. The average yearly temperature is -10C (14F) and the mercury can dip as low as -55C (-67F) - the lowest recorded temperature in the area.
There are up to 14 dogs in each team, and a day's patrol will typically cover 30km (19 miles). At night the soldiers retire to a hi-tech tent. The dogs sleep outside, even in the depths of winter.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
interesting bump, too bad we can’t use sled dogs to secure our sovereignty!
Maybe pit bulls!
What the hell is a dog SLEDGE?
Is that a big hammer used to kill dogs?
I think it is a SLED.
A vehicle mounted on low runners drawn by work animals, such as horses or dogs, and used for transporting loads across ice, snow, and rough ground.
tr. & intr.v., sledged, sledg·ing, sledg·es.
To convey or travel on a sledge.
Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/sledge#ixzz1fC8vDCYp
its too early for posting........
this could be hugh.
"Don't make me come over there."
This story does not identify the breed of dog used. :( Huskies? Malemutes? Other? Just that they are bred to be larger and stronger. Beautiful animals.
I had no idea that Denmark patrolled Greenland — especially so faithfully. I thought this article was going to be about Sattelite radio! LOL
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