North Pole

:This is about the geographic meaning of "North Pole." For the cities, see North Pole, Alaska and North Pole, New York.

Territorial claims to the North Pole (Arctic)

Until 1999, the North Pole (Arctic) had been considered international territory. However, as the polar ice has begun to recede at a rate higher than expected (see global warming), several countries have made moves to claim the water or seabed at the Pole. Russia made its first claim in 2001, claiming Lomonosov Ridge, an underwater mountain ridge underneath the Pole, as a natural extension of Siberia. This claim was contested by Norway, Canada, the United States and Denmark in 2004. Denmark's territory of Greenland has the nearest coastline to the North Pole, and Denmark argues that the Lomonosov Ridge is in fact an extension of Greenland. Canada claims sovereignty in a sector continuing to the North Pole between 60°W and 141°W longitude, a claim that is not universally recognized. In addition, Canada claims the water between its Arctic Islands as internal waters, a claim that is not recognized by the United States (Denmark, Russia and Norway have made claims similar to those of Canada and are opposed by the EU and the United States). The potential value of the North Pole and the area around resides in any possible potential petroleum and gas below the underlying sea-bed, the exploration for which in the near future might become more feasible after the opening of the Northwest Passage.

Related Topics:
1999 - Arctic - Global warming - 2001 - Lomonosov Ridge - Underwater mountain ridge - Siberia - Norway - Canada - United States - Denmark - 2004 - Greenland - Longitude - Arctic Islands - Petroleum - Gas - Northwest Passage

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