Preface -- Introduction, North Pole (NP) drifting ice camp brief history -- Main scientific results -- Atmosphere -- Meterological observations at North Pole drifting stations -- Solar radiation regime -- Albedo of the snow cover -- Atmospheric processes over the North polar seas and long-range weather forecasting -- Sea ice cover -- Geophysical observations at the ice drifting stations 'North Pole' -- Oceanography -- Hydrobiology -- Summary.The authors describe in The Russian North Pole Drifting Stations for the first time the history of establishing drifting stations in the Arctic Basin since 1937. They set out the main aims and goals of the observations made and outline the methods of organizing the drifting stations, gear and equipment for life support and scientific observations at the North Pole drifting stations and during the airborne high-latitudinal expeditions. The main scientific results and the analysis of data obtained during metereological, oceanographic, ice and geophysical observations are presented and the book contains illustrations, maps and tables that can be used by a wide range of specialists investigating the nature of the Arctic region. An analysis of the contribution of the data collected at the drifting stations, the process of envionmental research in the Arctic Basin and the plans for future use of drifting stations is provided, with special emphasis on the forthcoming International Polar Year 2007-2008.