The British Museum planned an exhibit called Arctic culture and climate, but was unable to open due to the pandemic. You can take a video tour instead. Part of the exhibit looks at the dogs of the Arctic, which have been more than companions to the people who live there. One fascinating thing that sticks out is how dog sledding varies according to the route. We are used to seeing teams of sled dogs in a double line, taking up little room as they maneuver through the woods, such as in the Iditarod. This style is typical of the Khanty people of Siberia.
Another style of hitching dogs is used by Inuit in eastern Canada and Greenland. The so-called ‘fan hitch’ spreads out dogs and runs in a line like this model from Hudson’s Bay, Canada shows. This style of hitching sled dogs is preferred as it is safer to have a wide spread of dogs when travelling across sea ice. The dogs also have more room to maneuver across rough patches of ice.
Read more about how dogs have made life in the Arctic possible for humans at the British Museum blog. -via Strange Company
(Image credit: The British Museum)