The extreme climate also limits how people have made use of the land. In the past the traditional inhabitants (e.g. Inuit in northern Canada, Lapps in northern Scandinavia) would have a seasonally nomadic lifestyle.

The Inuit would hunt in the summers often moving to where the seals and whales could be found and in the winter stay in a more permanent shelter.

Traditionally Lapps would follow the large reindeer herds on which they depended. These tradional ways of life have largely died out and most people stay in modern permanent housing.

Modern developments in The Arctic areas include oil production in Alaska and early warning stations which were set up to spot missiles attacks between the USA and the Soviet Union. Such developments increase the rate of change for the indigenous people and have been blamed for social problems such as alcohol abuse. There are also concerns that modern developments can have a harmful affect on the environment.

Conservationists may oppose these changes, whilst others argue in their favour as it can bring good economic results, namely jobs and money.