Green isles and sandstone bluffs contrast with blue Lena Rivr in aerial view upriver from Yakutsk Russia

Green islands and sandbars dot deep blue Lena River in July in aerial view uprvr of Yakutsk (v) Russia

Aerial view in July of the famous sandstone Stolby pillars on the Lena River upriver from Yakutsk. Russia

Sinyaya River twists past sandstone cliffs on way to Lena River; aerial view near Sinsk, Yakutia. Russia

Sandstone crags tower over Sinyaya Rivr in low, close aerial view on July day near Sinsk, Yakutia. Russia

Arctic river wriggles like silver snake in July sun in westward aerial view; Verkhoyansk Range. Russia

Concrete bldgs dwarf log homes in Yakutsk, capital of Russia's largest republic, Yakutia-Sakha. Russia

Concrete piers are only type of bldg foundation in Yakutsk, a city built totally on permafrost Russia

Fence sign advertising a 'Mammoth' reflects key role extinct creature plays in Sakha culture. Russia

Man in Yakutsk wears large beard typical of the Cossacks who once ruled the Yakutia-Sakha republic Russia

Bearded man pours himself vodka inside gatehouse at government compound in Yakutsk. Russia

Grandmother poses with her grandsons inside the gatehouse to a government compound in Yakutsk. Russia

Man uses hi-speed grinder to sculpt mammoth from mammoth ivory @ new ivory trade company; Yakutsk Russia

Carver studies mammoth he sculpted from mammoth ivory at a new ivory trading company in Yakutsk Russia

Simon Ivanov eyes reindeer team that took him months to carve by hand from mammoth ivory; Yakutsk Russia

Four carvings fashioned from mammoth ivory by Simon Ivanov sit on desk in a study in Yakutsk. Russia

Two men shake tusks loose of sawdust in bin at Natl Mammoth Fund warehouse of Sakha ivory;Yakutsk Russia

Natl Mammoth Fund managers Vlad Popov & Grigory Fiodorov w/ 90kg tusk in ivory warehouse; Yakutsk Russia

Grigory Fiodorov, manager, rests foot on 90kg tusk at National Mammoth Fund warehouse; Yakutsk. Russia

Paleontologist Petr Lazarev by mammoth skull at the World Museum of Mammoth, Yakutsk State University; Yakutsk, Russia

Sakha woman museum guard poses by woolly mammoth skeleton at History & Culture Museum;Yakutsk Russia

Nikolai Bodzhedonov, 62, w/ mammoth tusks in his nature museum; Betenkios, Adycha River, Yakutia Russia

Nikolai Bodzhedonov, 62, w/ mammoth tusks in his nature museum; Betenkios, Adycha River, Yakutia Russia

Shaman prays as asst holds bowl skyward at performance of ancient Olonkho epic;Ysyakh fest,Yakutsk Russia

Shaman pours food offering from spoon into fire during ceremony @ midsummer Ysyakh fest;(v)Yakutsk Russia

Costumed warrior dances on stage @ performance of ancient Olonkho epic of Ysyakh festival; Yakutsk Russia

Costumed warrior points spear @ performance of ancient Olonkho epic of Ysyakh festival; Yakutsk Russia

Victorious warrior parades rescued princess on stage at end of Olonkho epic;Ysyakh fest/Yakutsk Russia

Costumed women wait in row with ritual cups of fermented mare's milk, kumyss;Ysyakh fest/Yakutsk Russia

Costumed women dance in row at performance of ancient Olonkho epic of the Ysyakh fest; Yakutsk Russia

Costumed woman waves hands in air during ritual dance of ancient Olonkho epic;Ysyakh fest/Yakutsk Russia

Costumed woman waves hands in air during ritual dance of ancient Olonkho epic;Ysyakh fest/Yakutsk Russia

Man forces opponent to the ground in Sakha-style tripping match @ midsummer Ysyakh fest; Yakutsk. Russia

Man lunges over his fallen opponent in Sakha-style tripping match @ midsummer Ysyakh fest; Yakutsk Russia

Sakha warrior reenactor gallops a white horse past crowded stands at midsummer Ysyakh festival in eastern Siberia; Yakutsk, Russia

Sakha men join in osuokhai -ritual circle dance and chant- at the midsummer Ysyakh fest; Yakutsk. Russia

Three men join in osuokhai -ritual circle dance and chant- at the midsummer Ysyakh fest; Yakutsk. Russia

Man grimaces as he leads chant in ritual osuokhai circle dance @ midsummer Ysyakh fest; Yakutsk Russia

Man in fur cap and Sakha jacket chants in osuokhai circle dance @ midsummer Ysyakh fest; Yakutsk Russia

Sakha girl's lustrous hair is pinned up by mammoth-ivory barrette @ midsummer Ysyakh fest; Yakutsk Russia

Finely-carved barrette of mammoth ivory adorns a Sakha girl's lustrous hair in Yakutsk. Russia

Girl eyes old Sakha woman with ritual cup of kumyss- fermented mare's milk; Ysyakh fest/Yakutsk Russia

Old Sakha woman w/ medals talks to younger woman in fur cap at midsummer Ysyakh fest; Yakutsk. Russia

Aged Sakha woman in pink scarf wears proud smile at midsummer Ysyakh festival; (v) Yakutsk. Russia

Weathered Sakha elder in flannel shirt stands before his native village on July morn; Betenkios. Russia

Sakha woman in scarf leans on cane as she gazes away on July morn in village of Betenkios, Yakutia Russia

Paleontologist Petr Lazarev talks to fisherman before hiking sand bluffs of Adycha River for bones; Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia

Paleontologist Petr Lazarev leans on hiking stick before climbing sandy bluffs of Adycha River in search of bones; Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia.

Paleontologist Petr Lazarev climbs steep sandy bluffs of Adycha River in search of bones; Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia.

Paleontologist Petr Lazarev gazes across Adycha River atop sandy permafrost bluffs where he hunts for bones; Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia.

Paleontologist Petr Lazarev and fisherman eagerly stand over bone pile left by kids on Adycha River; Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia.

Paleontologist Petr Lazarev and fishermen sort pile of prehistoric bones found by kids on Adycha River; Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia.

Paleontologist Petr Lazarev examines a woolly mammoth tooth amid bones found by schoolkids on field trip on Adycha River; Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia.

Paleontologist Petr Lazarev examines woolly mammoth rib amid bone pile on banks of the Adycha River; Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia.

Paleontologist Petr Lazarev and fisherman examine mammoth tusk in taiga forest; Adycha River; Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia.

Two fishermen hold mammoth tusk that schoolkids from village of Betenkios found on Adycha River. Russia

Fisherman in orange cap carries mammoth tusk kids from village of Betenkios found on Adycha Rvr Russia

Museum director Vladimir Chernavtzev displays mammth tooth amid tusks & carvings; Charmex/Moscow Russia

Museum director Vladimir Chernavtzev examines mammth tooth amid tusks & carvings; Charmex/Moscow Russia

Mammoth-ivory carving of Siberian fisherman sits amid blocks of minerals @ Charmex museum;Moscow Russia

Mammoth-ivory carving of woolly mammoths sits before ice-like crystal @ Charmex museum; Moscow Russia

Museum director Vladimir Chernavtzev holds mammoth-ivory statue of Blind Justice; Charmex/Moscow Russia

Museum director Vladimir Chernavtzev holds mammoth-ivory statue of Blind Justice; Charmex/Moscow Russia

One-ton skeleton of woolly mammoth found 1799 on Lena Rivr towers over baby;Zoology Msum/St Petebg Russia

Zoologist Alexei Tikhonov kneels by baby mammoth statue beneath 1-ton skeleton;Zlgy Msum/St Pete Russia

Zoologist Alexei Tikhonov kneels by baby mammoth statue beneath 1-ton skeleton;Zlgy Msum/St Pete Russia

Zoologist Alexei Tikhonov leans on tusk of 1-tn mammoth skeleton from Siberia; Zoolgy Msm/St Pete Russia