Vladimir Putin studies permafrost in Arctic

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin traveled to the Siberian Federal District and the Far Eastern Federal District on Monday. But the weather brought changes to his plans. Due to bad weather conditions, his plane failed to land at Russia's Arctic city of Norilsk and Vladimir Putin’s tour started in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).

Shortly after his arrival in the village of Tiksi, on the coast of the Arctic Ocean, Putin flew by helicopter to Samoilovsky Island to meet with members of the joint Russian-German scientific expedition Lena-2010.

The scientists on Samoilovsky Island showed the premier what research they were conducting.

The prime minister even participated in the selection of samples. He helped the scientists take the ice samples from the permafrost.

The scientists said the ice at this place is aged from 2,000-3,000 years to 50,000 years and lies at the depth of up to 1.5 km. The ice in this part of Russia is older than in Greenland, they said. Photo: Vladimir Putin arrives on Samoilovsky Island to meet with the members of the joint Russian-German scientific expedition Lena-2010 and visit the place where their research is conducted.

The scientists told the prime minister that the research of the ice in various parts of the world will help forecast the processes happening inside the earth and their influence on the climate.

Putin promised the scientists to provide financial aid necessary to make an exact forecast on global climate change.

Vladimir Putin was shown animal carcasses which were found on Samoilovsky Island.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin arrives on Samoilovsky Island where the joint Russian-German scientific expedition Lena-2010 is operating.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin arrives on Samoilovsky Island where the joint Russian-German scientific expedition Lena-2010 is operating.