the reindeer herder's day in russia

In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, Nenets women speak at sunset after the Reindeer Herder's Day holiday in the city of Nadym, in Yamal-NenetsRegion, 2500 kilometers (about 1553 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia.

It's a holiday celebrated annually in Russia's Yamal-Nenetsregion in the Arctic.For the indigenous nomadic Nenets people, Reindeer Herder's Day offers a chance to show their prowess in wrestling, high jumps and other traditional local sports, but, above all, in reindeer races.Some participants travelled hundreds of miles across the frozen tundra to attend the competition in the northern Siberian region, which has more than half of its territory above the Arctic Circle.

(Photos by Dmitry Lovetsky/AP Photo)

In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, a Nenets woman rides steers a sled during a reindeer race at the Reindeer Herder's Day in the city of Nadym, in Yamal-Nenets Region, 2500 kilometers (about 1553 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia.

In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, a Nenets man rides in a reindeer sled at sunset after the Reindeer Herder's Day in the city of Nadym, in Yamal-Nenets Region, 2500 kilometers (about 1553 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia.

In this photo taken on Saturday, March 14, 2015, a Nenets boy sits on a sleigh as he attends the Reindeer Herder's Day holiday in the city of Nadym, in Yamal-Nenets Region, 2500 kilometers (about 1553 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia.

In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, a Nenets family walks after the Reindeer Herder's Day

In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, Nenets children attend the Reindeer Herder's Day

In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, a Nenets man pulls his reindeer at the Reindeer Herder's Day in the city of Nadym, in Yamal-Nenets Region, 2500 kilometers (about 1553 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia.

In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, a Nenets family walks after the Reindeer Herder's Day

In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, a Nenets man takes part in a reindeer race at the Reindeer Herder's Day in the city of Nadym, in Yamal-Nenets Region, 2500 km (about 1553 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia. For the indigenous nomadic Nenets people, the Reindeer Herder’s Day offers a chance to show their prowess in wrestling, high jumps and other traditional local sports, but, above all, reindeer races.

In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, a Nenets woman walks by chums at the Reindeer Herder's Day

Nenets women take photos

In this photo taken on Saturday, March 14, 2015, Nenets people ride in a reindeer sleigh during the Reindeer Herder's Day

In this photo taken on Saturday, March 14, 2015, a Nenets man sits on a reindeer sleigh at the Reindeer Herder's Day

Nenets man

In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, a Nenets man examines a stuffed bear at the Reindeer Herder's Day

In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, Nenets men prepare for reindeer races at the Reindeer Herder's Day

Two men grapple over a stick in one of the traditional events in Russiaís Yamal-Nenets region in the Arctic

In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, a Nenets woman and her child attend the Reindeer Herder's Day

In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, Nenets children attend the Reindeer Herder's Day holiday in the city of Nadym, in Yamal-Nenets Region, 2500 kilometers (about 1553 miles) northeast of Moscow, Russia.

In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, Nenets men compete in a reindeer race at the Reindeer Herder's Day

One man's face shows the pain as he takes part in the wrestling event

A local boy sits on a massive sleigh, cheeks pink with cold, while an old man looks to be feeling the effects of weather in Siberia

The shadows of several reindeer are silhouetted as the sun goes down over Nadym in Russia following the reindeer festival

In this photo taken on Sunday, March 15, 2015, a Nenets man rides a reindeer sled at the Reindeer Herder's Day