It weighs 33,540 tonnes and is 569 feet long.
Its two nuclear reactors and two turbo generators push it forward at a speed of 22 knots.
The Russian presidential flag is displayed prominently on its bow as the ice in front of it cracks under its bulk and a clear path of frigid Arctic water is left in its wake.
It’s called the Arktika and it, along with its crew of 74, is leading Russia’s campaign of Arctic conquest.
The Arktika is the first of three LK-60Ya-class nuclear-powered icebreakers, and is the largest icebreaker in the world, a point that cements Russia’s status as the undisputed leader of exploration in the Arctic.
But why, exactly, are the Arktika and its crew exploring the region?
Their aim is to secure an economic future that puts Russia ahead of everyone, including the United States, by allowing the country to tap into previously unreachable resources. And ships like the Arktika play a key role in that mission.
The Race Toward Arctic Supremacy
As temperatures rise and ice melts, the land grab among nations vying for control of the Arctic is picking up. The trouble, however, is that Russia is so far ahead, everyone else will be trying to catch up for years. If they can catch up at all.
The Arktika, launched in 2016, is one of over 40 icebreakers that Russia has in play. These ships are making it possible for other Russian ships to move along the waters in the frozen north without trouble, grab whatever they can, and either head back home with the spoils or on to ports where they can sell to trading partners.
As Jason Simpkins pointed out in his editorial, the Arktika and other ships in Russia’s icebreaking fleet are carving out routes of commerce that allow for easier access to a number of other Russian-controlled interests in the area. These not only include military bases, but drilling platforms and mining operations as well.
Because Russia had the foresight to invest in Arctic exploration, these seafaring, ice-crushing behemoths make the work of cargo ships, transports, and countless other types of vessels easier. And that will only make those who have their money positioned richer faster.
Russian operations in this capacity are in their own league. Compared to its fleet of 40 icebreaking ships, the U.S. only has two. These are ships that can take years to build, so don’t look for Washington to christen a new one any time soon. Beyond that, anti-drilling campaigns and other environmental efforts tie Washington’s hands in creating stronger plans for the Arctic. That isn’t an obstacle Moscow faces.
But even if Russia is winning this turf war on what some are calling “The 8th Continent”, there’s still a way for you to profit from the scramble for resources in what was once unexplored country.
Unearthing the 8th Continent
There’s a region of this “8th Continent” in British Columbia, close to Alaska and the Coastal Mountain range, that houses the kinds of resources that can make anyone who positions themselves correctly as rich as Russia stands to become through its Arctic endeavors.
Hidden beneath the rugged, picturesque wilderness of this area, known to many as the “Golden Triangle”, are vast stores of riches just waiting to be pulled from the ground. Exploration in the area has been practiced since the 1800s, and continued all the way into the 1990s until a combination of high production costs and low commodity prices brought a lot of activity to a halt.
But prices are recovering, and it’s making sense to turn the drills back on.
Russia knows it. A number enterprising mining companies of all sizes know it. And now you know it.
All of these different players are converging to get their share of what some are speculating to be a $2 TRILLION fortune.
The entire Golden Triangle area is believed to contain 130 million ounces of gold, 20 million tons of copper, and 800 million ounces of silver. These are all essential resources needed by a variety of industries, and the companies that bring them to market will be paid very handsomely for doing so.
And believe it or not, it’s not the only game in town. Nearby, in Alaska, miners are scrambling for stakes in an area known as the Pebble deposit. It sits in a remote part of Bristol Bay, a scenic area known for its fishing.
The deposit itself houses large amounts of not just gold, but copper and molybdenum as well. These are minerals that are crucial to a number of interests in the U.S. Once extracted, they would lessen the country’s reliance on foreign sources. If you play it right, it would put money in your pocket as well.
The riches are there in the Arctic, and you don’t need your own version of the Arktika or a vessel like it for a chance to increase your wealth.
Because Nick Hodge has information on a small company that owns 12 different mining sites in the Arctic. Two of those sites are in the Golden Triangle and several border the Pebble deposit.
You’ll need to take action right away to get in on this, because all of the players in the area are moving fast. So get your report right now.
Keep your eyes open,
Ryan Stancil
Outsider Club, Contributing Editor
