At the North Pole, science. beauty, and legend collide

Scientists and trekkers visiting the North Pole got a surprise visit from the runner up in a Russian beauty pageant, Natalia, Liberman, 39, of Moscow, and Russia's Father Christmas. At left is James Osse, an ocean engineer from the University of Washington, Seattle. The winner of the December beauty pageant turned down the prize, a trip to the Pole, giving the honor to Mrs. Liberman.Learn more about polar science and extreme tourism in my book on the once and future Arctic, The North Pole Was Here. Read the first chapter online: www.nytimes.com/learning/globalwarming