Russia has claimed its stake for the Arctic Ocean including the North Pole, saying that the disputed region is part of the country’s ‘continental character’. The nation has submitted their claim for 1.2 million sq km of disputed territory to the United Nations.

It is said the area in question is thought to contain large untapped reserves of oil and gas. Some also believe that the area is a huge reserve for gems and minerals such as gold and nickel.

Russian officials said, “The tectonic plate maps clearly showed that the outer borders of the continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean is based on the scientific understanding that the central Arctic underwater ridges … have a continental character”.

As per the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea the coastal countries are allowed to extend their jurisdiction beyond 200 nautical miles (370km) as long as it can prove the boundary is a natural extension.

Russia now believes that they now have the proof for it and they want that the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (UN CLCS) to confirm their claim.

Russia since decades has been trying hard to claim to the Arctic, it has always maintained a presence in the region by building manned drifting stations since the late 1930s.

It has been found that in 2001 Russia submitted its first claim for the Arctic to the UN CLCS but was told the following year the commission would consider its submission.

The ministry said that the resubmitted bid contains new arguments with ample of scientific data that has been collected in years of Arctic research are used to back the Russian claim.