| WILD ARCTIC FUN GUIDE |
| Vocabulary |
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| Arctic the ocean and surrounding land at the top of the earth; derived from the Greek word arkos, meaning bear. |
| beluga from the Russian word belukha, meaning white. Because of its ashy grey and white coloring, the beluga whale is also known as the white whale. |
| blubber an insulative layer of fat just below the skin of most marine mammals. |
| conservation taking care of our environment by wisely managing its resources. |
| den the shelter or retreat of an animal; also used for giving birth to and protecting young. |
| flippers the broad, flat forelimbs and hindlimbs of most marine mammals, including pinnipeds (seals, sea lions,, and walruses) and cetaceans (whales). Flippers are supported by bones. |
| food chain a straignt-line diagram that shows the complex interconnections of "who eats whom" in an ecosystem. |
| ice floe a flat expanse of floating ice |
| IAP International Arctic Project. The goal of this 1995 Arctic Ocean expedition was to cross 3,218 km (2,000 mi) of arctic land on dogsled, while conducting research and collecting data about the arctic region. |
| pollution harmful elements that alter of affect an environment in a negative way, such as chemicals that poison water supplies or trash that clutters the ocean. |
| scrimshaw a form of Native American art which uses animal bones and ivory. Artists carce pictures onto them, then stain them to bring out the highlights of their etching. |
| sledge A low-running vehicle drawn by dogs, horses, or reindeer and used for transporting loads across snow and ice. |
| tundra a treeless area between the ice cap and the tree line of arctic regions, with a permanently frozen subsoil. |
| tusks a pair of elongated, pointed teeth projecting outside the mouth of certain animals (like walruses). |
| vibrissae stiff, but sensitive whiskers on the face or head of an animal.
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