Baidarka

/baɪˈdɑːrkə/ noun

Definition

A light, fast, kayak-like boat with a wooden frame covered in skin, used by indigenous peoples of the North Pacific and Siberia.

Etymology

From Russian baidárka, a diminutive of baidar, borrowed from indigenous Siberian languages; refers to small agile boats used in arctic waters.

Kelly Says

The baidarka was so effective at navigating icy northern waters that Russian explorers adopted it for their Alaskan expeditions—it's basically the ancestor of the modern kayak, proving that indigenous boat design was already perfect for the job.

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