The Polar Shelf: The Saga of Canada's Arctic Scientists

L.J. Rouse was a freelance writer in Toronto.

Until the Soviets launched Sputnik in 1957, there seemed to be no particular urgency in exploring and studying the Canadian north. Then very quickly it became clear just how important the Canadian Arctic was and is; and in April 1958, the Canadian government initiated the Polar Continental Shelf Project.

The purpose of the project was to study the problems of Arctic aviation, polar navigation, and meteorological forecasting in Polar Regions, and to make geological, biological and archaeological studies. “Cost efficient, moveable scientific bases” were set up on gigantic ice islands, some of which would last for 20 years.

This is a handsome and interesting volume, which is illustrated with a collection of unusual photographs in both colour and black and white. The photographs capture the beautiful, yet largely unexplored, Arctic terrain, and portray the project members at work. Comments by the members, describing their work and the working conditions, accompany the photographs.