Dog sled

r using a dog sled pulled by three dogs. Dog sleds have been used for over a thousand years. Dog power has been used by humans for hunting and traveling for over 9,000 years. While dog sledding is an ancient tradition, it remains a crucial practice for remote communities that depend on it both culturally and economically, such as Qaanaaq and Ittoqqortoormiit, remote settlements in Greenland. With sea ice surrounding these areas for nine months each year, mushing is a skill passed down from a young age. Sled dogs continue to play a vital role as hunting and fishing companions, essential to the survival of those living in these harsh environments. == Design ==

Dog sleds come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and designs. Often regions will have a unique dog sled design that best accommodates the cultural traditions, local terrain, and climate as well as available resources. The built-up sled, featuring a high rail on each side, was typically used for carrying lighter items like clothing and is primarily linked to dog sledding in Alaska and Siberia. Both types of sleds are constructed using lashing. Nartas from forested areas such as Kamchatka are narrow, low-slung sleds in which the musher sits. The Chukchi also used driftwood from American pine or oak, while whalebone was commonly used for the runners. , pictured here with a kayak on top, is a traditional Inuit sled designed to travel on snow and ice. The Inuit use a traditional low sled design called a qamutiik which travels easily on snow and ice. Anthologist Franz Boas and archaeologist Therkel Mathiassen both noted the use of deer skulls with attached antlers at the back of the sled. In some situations, some Indigenous peoples' tribes would eat the dogs they had either because they were not useful, or if the sledder needed food. ==See also==