The traditional lifestyle of the Eskimos is slowly changing
Eskimos
During winters, the Eskimos sometimes live in igloos made of blocks of snow, but this is not very common these days.
The traditional lifestyle of the Eskimos is slowly changing. Harpoons have been replaced by rifles for hunting and therefore food is becoming scarce. Motorized sledges called snowmobiles have replaced the teams of husky dogs.
Today most Eskimos live in especially constructed, oil –heated houses provided by the government. Eskimos villages now have piped water supply, sewage disposal facilities, schools and medical services. Projects such as tourists’ lodges, cod fisheries and breeding musk-oxen give employment to Eskimos.
The tundra has valuable deposits of oil, natural gas, uranium, nickel, iron, gold and coal. The harsh climate of the tundra makes it difficult to obtain and transport these minerals, but modern technology is helping to solve these problems. Find out about the pipeline being built to carry oil and natural gas from Siberia in Russia to different parts of Europe.
Lapps
The Lapp population is about 35,000 and can be divided into three groups according to the place where they live.
The mountain Lapps
The mountain Lapps keep huge herds of reindeer. They had a nomadic life because they follow the animals who wander about in search of moss and lichen. Whole families move with the reindeer. They look after the reindeer with great care as it as their chief source of money. The reindeer drag the sledges, thus providing a means of transport. They also provide nourishing milk. When a reindeer is killed, the meat is used for food and the skin is used for tents, clothing and blankets. The horns are sharpened and used as weapons hunting.
The sea Lapps
The sea Lapps, as the name implies, live by the coast and make their living by fishing. They live in the tents or huts made of wood and covered with earth. Sometimes the tents re grouped together to form villages.
The river Lapps
The river Lapps, as you can guess, live along the banks of the rivers of Lapland. They lead a more settled life. The fish from the rivers and lakes, and the rye and vegetables grown in places where the soil is good, provide them with food.
A recent development is the discovery of iron ore at Kiruna and Gallivare in Northern Sweden. Thus more and more Lapps are leaving their traditional work and finding employment in modern industrial areas.
Like it on Facebook, Tweet it or share this article on other bookmarking websites.