Economy:

Human activities of the tundra are largely confined to the coast. Where plateaux and mountains increase the altitude, it is uninhabitable, for these are permanently snow-covered. The few people who live in the tundra live a semi-nomadic life and have to adapt themselves to the harsh environment. The Arctic region, once regarded as completely useless, is now of some economic importance. Apart from the efforts of the various governments in assisting the advancement of the Arctic inhabitants the Eskimos, Lapps, Samoyeds etc., new settlements have sprung up because of the discovery of minerals.