The Arctic has been little exploited for economic purposes, but, because it contains 8 percent of the surface of the planet and 15 percent of the land area, significant resources (both renewable and nonrenewable) may be reasonably assumed to be present. Some of these are known—and being utilized—but there could be enormous expansion if it is required and thought desirable. Exploration for mineral resources in particular has been far from exhaustive. At the present time the most important resources are the minerals, especially hydrocarbons. Two of the world’s major producing areas for oil and natural gas lie in the Arctic. ...(100 of 37874 words)