"The Russian moose is a moose in America too": geographer Alexei Vodorezov on the connection between continents via the Bering Land Bridge

Geographer Alexei Vodorezov told guests at the National Centre RUSSIA why nature in Siberia and Alaska is so similar, and how this affected the dispersal of animals and humans. The meeting took place as part of the new educational project of the National Centre RUSSIA — "Conversations with Stanislav Drobyshevsky".

According to Alexei Vodorezov, if a resident of the central part of Russia ever finds themselves in north-eastern Siberia and then moves to Alaska, they will hardly notice the difference: the same expanses, the same colours, the same plants and animals, and this is no coincidence.

"Almost all the plants of the taiga, or rather, the tundra of northern Russia, are also found in North America. And the same applies to tundra and northern taiga animals. Their moose is the same as our moose: though the Americans came up with their own name, the giant moose, and elevated it to the rank of a new species. Why is that? Because it is only now that Siberia and America are apart, but quite recently, during the last phase of glaciation, there was a vast land bridge here called Beringia. Living creatures walked freely across it from Eurasia to America and back," explained Alexei Vodorezov.

Photo: Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

The so-called Bering Land Bridge (Beringia) was located on the site of the modern-day Bering Strait. Mammoths, moose, and, of course, humans migrated across the ancient land isthmus, which was exposed during the last Ice Age. Alexei Vodorezov provided compelling evidence for these migrations — genetic evidence.

"Near Irkutsk, there are two sites — Malta and Buret. At the Malta site, the burial of two children was discovered. Research showed that these children turned out to be relatives, on the one hand, of the inhabitants of modern Western Siberia — the Khanty, Mansi, Selkups, and Kets — and on the other, of modern North American Indians. That is, the population living in the vicinity of Lake Baikal split. One part moved to Western Siberia (by the way, echoes of these genetics are also found in Europe), while the other went north-east, crossed the Bering Land Bridge, and became the ancestors of the Indians, mixing with other groups along the way, of course. And among those sitting here, there may also be carriers of similar genetic lines," the expert concluded, reminding everyone that ancient migrations have affected each of us.

One can participate in the new meetings of the "Conversations with Stanislav Drobyshevsky" series at the National Centre RUSSIA free of charge by pre-registering on the russia.ru website. Look for up-to-date information on event dates in the "Events" section.