An engaging and beautifully illustrated guide to the birds, animals and marine life of the Arctic Ocean and its polar fringes. Tony Soper's expert knowledge is richly supplemented with full-color illustrations by award-winning wildlife artist Dan Powell. This edition includes a new section on the distinct flora and fauna of the Bering Sea, an area about to see a significant increase in visitor numbers as a result of changes in the ice cover. Many expedition operators recommend this guide. Tony Soper has presented programmes for the BBC. Dan Powell is an award-winning illustrator. ‘A beautifully written, engaging text...exquisitely illustrated.’ WWF Arctic Bulletin   "A beautifully written, engaging text by polar veteran Tony Soper describes the habits and life histories of widespread species, which have been exquisitely illustrated in watercolour." WWF Arctic Bulletin Typically, belugas swim steadily along the surface, unlike most other whales, breathing in a rather thin steamy burst a couple of times a minute. They spend a lot of time under the pack ice, with the broad and flexible head used as a cushion to lift the floes in order to breathe. They can break through as much as 100cm of solid ice. They are a talkative species – a ‘gam’ of belugas would be the perfect description for a pod whose species was known to whalers as the sea canary because of its varied and musical vocabulary. They indulge in trills, clicks, squeals, bell sounds, whistles and raspberries, sounds which are heard clearly above the surface.