Title of stamp: International Polar Year
Issue date: February 12, 2007

Cool stamps raise polar awareness

Did you know that 2007 is International Polar Year (IPY) and that Canada is the world’s second-largest polar nation? In fact, 25 per cent of the Arctic falls within Canada’s borders. It’s no surprise that, during IPY, some of our country’s top scientists will try to find answers to urgent questions facing Canada’s Arctic region. Research will look at how the polar environments are doing, including changes in climate and the health of animals and plants that live in this barren yet beautiful northern territory.

On February 12, 2007, Canada Post issued two domestic rate (52¢) stamps to recognize International Polar Year. These stamps feature two arctic dwellers—the king eider of the genus Somateria and a deep-sea jellyfish of the genus Crossota.

The jellyfish, which is a brilliant red colour and about the size of your thumb, lives in the deepest part of the Arctic Ocean. This deep-sea creature was discovered only recently on a subarctic polar expedition. The king eider, which lives in Canada, Alaska and Greenland, is a strikingly beautiful bird with a bright orange bill, light grey crown and pale emerald cheeks. During IPY, scientists will study the migratory patterns of the king eider.