TORONTO -- Satellite imagery from NASA shows smoke from wildfires in the Siberian region of Russia have reached the North Pole in what the agency is calling 鈥渁 first in recorded history.鈥�
The images from NASA鈥檚 Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) taken on Aug. 6, show smoke blanketing 3,200 kilometres from east to west and 4,000 kilometres from north to south, effectively covering most of Russia.
鈥淭his week, wildfire smoke has travelled more than 3,000 km from Yakutia to reach the North Pole, a feat that appears to be a first in recorded history,鈥�
Smoke from the fires could also be seen in Nunavut, western Greenland and Mongolia, NASA added.
The smoke is coming from severe wildfires in the Sakha-Yakutia republic, Russia鈥檚 largest territory and area known to be one of the coldest places in the world during the winter months.
As of Sunday, 155 active wildfires were still burning in region, while two villages totalling 3,200 residents had to be evacuated.
On Monday, the United Nations released a scathing report that predicted worse heat waves, droughts and flash flooding unless humansd rastically cut down their emissions.
With files from The Associated Press
