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Settle Arctic disputesU.S., Canada Both Claim Areas of Arctic Ocean and Fabled Water Route to Orient.

Posted on: Wednesday, 7 December 2005, 18:00 CST

The Northwest Passage, the fabled water route between Europe and Asia that called to early explorers, is becoming a controversial reality. Ships with reinforced hulls and luck with wind and currents already can navigate it for a short time in summer.

The problem has long been that ice has locked up the Arctic Ocean north of the Americas. Now, warmer weather around the world has resulted in fast melting, and a new sea route between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans is opening. Estimates suggest that by 2050, it will be open nearly all summer.

A practical Northwest Passage would cut thousands of miles off the Europe/Asia journey and be a valuable asset to any country controlling the route. Canada has asserted its sovereignty over the waters around the Arctic archipelago since 1986. U.S. officials insist that these are international waters and should be open to all shipping.

The value of the disputed territory is a complicating factor. Portions of the Arctic are rich in fish and mineral resources. The Beaufort Sea, between Canada's Yukon Territory and Alaska, apparently has huge natural gas and oil reserves. A Northwest Passage also would open mineral beds now too difficult to mine to exploitation; zinc, copper, gold and diamonds are among the resources found in the far north.

It will take negotiation and, possibly, compromise to settle the many competing claims to portions of the ocean and islands along its coasts. The need to move toward a resolution becomes more acute as the Arctic ice melts.

Source: Omaha World - Herald

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