| Summary: | Abstract. The Arctic is a region of extremely sparse population, harsh climatic conditions and potentially rich resources which is strategically significant as an air route and waterway. The United States and Canada, the Scandinavian countries and the Soviet Union are engaged in developing the area's oil deposits, fisheries and other resources. Both the Western Bloc and the Soviet Bloc have spent billions of dollars fortifying and arming the region, which provides the shortest air routes between major cities in Europe, Asia and America.
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