Introduction

The Yenisei Meridian course ran from August 12 till September 10, 2002. It focused on the ecology of the various biomes found in the Yenisei valley from near the Arctic Ocean to the Mongolian border. The course was organized jointly by the Environmental Travel Center in Moscow, the InterUniversity Centre in Guelph, Ontario and Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. The course was taught by Professor Dolf Harmsen of Queen’s University, Dr. Boris Sheftel and Dr. Konstantin Rogovin, both of the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution in Moscow. The course had 14 registered students and was accompanied by 15 other travellers, including Dr. Willem Vreeken of Queen’s University, Dr. Louise Fillion and Dr. Serge Payette, both of Université Laval in Québec. Drs. Vreeken, Fillion and Payette participated actively in the educational aspect of the course. Several scientists from Siberian research institutions and nature reserves also gave guided field trips and lectures. The course offered credit either from Queen’s University or from Moscow State University. The following is an annotated itinerary of the course, as it developed under the competent guidance of Boris Sheftel, his wife Antonina (Tonya) Alexandrova, Tatyana Kalishevskaya, Chaizu Kyrgys and a number of other Russians who all did their share of making this course and exploratory journey an unforgettable success.