Beringia () is a sled dog race of variable length held in

Kamchatka Krai Kamchatka Krai (, ) is a federal subjects of Russia, federal subject of Russia (a krai), situated in the Russian Far East. It is administratively part of the Far Eastern Federal District. Its administrative center and largest types of inhabited l ...

and

Chukotka Autonomous Okrug Chukotka ( ; ), officially the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, is the easternmost federal subjects of Russia, federal subject of Russia. It is an Autonomous okrugs of Russia, autonomous okrug situated in the Russian Far East, and shares a border wi ...

, Russia. First held in 1990, Beringia in 1992 currently holds the

Guinness world record ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a British reference book published annually, listi ...

for longest dog sled race. Today, Beringia is an official holiday in Kamchatka.

History

Originally started in April 1990 to preserve local sled dog traditions including the

Kamchatka sled dog The Kamchatka Sled Dog () is a rare landrace of sled Laika (dog type), laika developed by the Itelmens, Itelmen and Koryaks, Koryak people of Kamchatka Peninsula, Kamchatka, Russia. There are currently efforts underway to revive the breed. A stand ...

, the first race saw 8 teams compete over a route. The following year, the route was lengthened to . In 1992, the route was lengthened even further, setting a world record for longest dog sled race with teams racing from Esso, Kamchatka to Markova, Chukotka.

Course

Beringia teams face many challenges, including navigating through the mountainous terrain of Kamchatka and Chukotka as well as harsh weather conditions with temperatures as low as . The Beringia route and mileage have been altered multiple times, but it has consistently passed through the villages of the Kamchatka peninsula, where many towns along the route host festivities in conjunction with the race. In 2010, Beringia became an official holiday in Kamchatka. In remote parts of Kamchatka, dogsledding remains a key part of the economy and the race serves a vital secondary purpose in the region, by delivering food, sports equipment, school supplies, and books to otherwise inaccessible areas. While most racers use modern sleds, a few mushers choose a traditional

Siberia Siberia ( ; , ) is an extensive geographical region comprising all of North Asia, from the Ural Mountains in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east. It has formed a part of the sovereign territory of Russia and its predecessor states ...

n wooden sled called a "narta". Kamchatka-style nartas are narrow, low-slung sleds where the musher sits, designed for quick passage through forests. Prizes are awarded to mushers who complete Beringia using a narta for "honoring the traditions of the North."

References

{{Long-distance sled dog races Sled dog races 1990 establishments in the Soviet Union Recurring sporting events established in 1990 Kamchatka Krai Chukotka Autonomous Okrug Annual sporting events in Russia

History

Course

See also

References