Story at a glance
- The Washington Post reports hundreds of wildfires burning in the region are larger than those in Turkey, Greece, Italy, the U.S. and Canada combined.
- Wildfires occur each year in the heavily forested area known as the taiga, but this year has been particularly bad due to extreme heat waves and record droughts researchers have linked to climate change.
- The hardest-hit region is Yakutia, Russia’s largest territory that has recorded some of the coldest temperatures on Earth.
A massive stretch of wildfires tearing through Siberia is bigger than all other wildfires in the world combined as Russia’s largest and coldest region is enduring a record drought, according to a report from The Washington Post.
The Post reports hundreds of wildfires burning in the region are larger than those in Turkey, Greece, Italy, the U.S. and Canada combined. Greenpeace Russia reportedly estimates the infernos have torched more than 62,000 square miles since the start of the year.
Wildfires occur annually in the forested area known as the taiga, but this year has been particularly severe due to extreme heat waves and record droughts researchers have linked to climate change. Greenpeace Russia told the Post this year could end up being Russia’s worst fire season on record.
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The hardest-hit region is Yakutia, Russia’s largest territory that has recorded some of the coldest temperatures on Earth and sits on top of permafrost. Smoke from the massive fires has traveled thousands of miles, reaching the North Pole for the first time in recorded history, according to NASA.
As the Yakutia region is one of the most remote parts of Russia, dozens of large fires are burning with little resistance from crews as they’re not threatening any communities or infrastructure.
More than 8,600 emergency workers are trying to contain the massive fires, according to the Post.
According to the National Interagency Fire Center, wildfires in the U.S. this season have burned 3,893,239 acres as of Friday.
The news comes as a key United Nations panel published a report this week predicting worsening heat waves, drought, wildfires and other severe weather events unless humans drastically reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
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