Indeed, Nenets reindeer herders set up their chums, make camps not on the very bank of the river, but at some distance. Usually the distance is about two kilometers, maybe a little more or a little less. They ride a snowmobile to get water in winter.
It would seem that this approach is not logical and not practical. Water is needed every day, at least once every two days you have to go to replenish its supplies. Then why not change tactics and change location? Plus, mobile communications would probably be better.
It turns out that there are several reasons. One of them is that near the river the temperature is several degrees lower, which means that the deer will need more food to maintain a normal body temperature. And the deer feed on moss, which does not grow in the river lowlands.
The other most significant reason is child safety. Reindeer breeders also have kids, and they, like anywhere in the world, are curious people - they climb everywhere, everyone wants to know, to go everywhere. In order to protect the children as much as possible, the reindeer-breeders have to make a camp far from the river and travel long distances to get water.
It will be no less interesting to know how at low temperatures the reindeer herders in the tundra bathe, go to the toilet and solve other everyday problems.