who do u think owns the arctic?

Question

i'm doing this 4 a project, but i want your opinion on who owns the arctic: canada, usa (via alaska), denmark (via greenland), or russia.

Answer 1

All of the countries you named own territory within the arctic circle. Those claims are not disputed. What is disputed is the arctic ocean, or more specifically the land under the arctic ocean. There is probably a great deal of oil. Therefore there are questions of international law dealing with what constitutes a continent, and who owns what part of the continental shelf. There are a lot of treaties that have to be interpreted. Or gotten around. Russia recently made a political statement by planting a flag underwater. Realistically the area is too dangerous to plant oil platforms. The cost of extraction and shipment would probably be greater than what you could earn.

Answer 2

Firstly, in response to those who have said that the United States cannot claim the Moon just because they put a flag there. I have evidence supporting this argument and I direct anyone that disagrees with that to read Article Two of the Outer Space Treaty (can be found in the sources section), which states that no nation can claim any part of space (the treaty specifically mentions the Moon, among other things). Secondly, I'm getting rather sick and tired of other nations attempting to claim the Arctic region as their own. It is in international waters, but I feel I should point out that we are closer to it than anyone else, any good look at a map of the region will tell you that. This is the third time a nation has attempted to infringe on Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic. The other two attempts being: the incident with Denmark on an island between Ellesmere Island and Greenland, and the United States claiming that the Northwest Passage is an international waterway. Canada seems to be becoming a target because of our natural resources. I hope this can be settled peacefully through international talks and the United Nations, but I fear that may depend on the results of the upcoming elections in the United States. Just in case those options fail, I think the expansion of the armed forces (specifically the navy) should be more of a priority. I'm NOT saying we should go to war, I'm saying we should be prepared in case someone else does. PS: I'm sure Russia, Norway and Denmark would be in favour of a hockey tournament to settle the claim. I'm not too sure about the United States though, how many times have we beat them in hockey? And in both genders no less. PPS: I'm in favour (if someone HAS to have it) of either Canada or Norway having it. PPPS: Sorry for the long post. :(

Answer 3

The whole of the arctic or just the NW passage?

Canada, USa, Russia, Sweden and Norway all have land bordering the arctic sea.

The NW passage is just between US and Canada

Answer 4

Chuck Norris does, and he'll kickn the --- of anyone who says otherwise!
;)

but seriously, it depends on bank claims, distance from shre and the like. Deep waters far from shelves and shore should be international waters. Most of the rest will be Russian or Canadian, with Greenland and the US each having their slices of pie.

Answer 5

Who ever gets to the inside of Middle Earth first.

Answer 6

The one who (a) wants it most and (b) has the army most capable of defending their claims.

That is the way all territorial disputes are decided.