Northern-Sea Route

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Northern-Sea Route

News: Murmansk, often referred to as the capital of the Arctic region and the starting point of the Northern Sea Route (NSR), is currently experiencing a notable increase in Indian participation in cargo transportation.

What is NSR?
• It is the shortest shipping route for freight transportation between Europe and countries of the AsiaPacific region, straddles four seas of the Arctic Ocean.
• Running to 5,600 km, the Route begins at the boundary between the Barents and the Kara seas (Kara Strait) and ends in the Bering Strait (Provideniya Bay).

About Arctic region and significance for India:
• Arctic, northernmost region of Earth, centred on the North Pole and characterized by distinctively polar conditions of climate, plant and animal life, and other physical features.
• Vulnerability to Arctic climate changes affects India’s climate patterns, impacting agriculture and water resources.
• The Arctic holds vast unexplored hydrocarbon reserves, estimated at over 40% of global oil and gas reserves, along with coal, zinc, and silver potential.
• India’s Arctic policy aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing responsible and sustainable development in the region.