Political and Strategic Importance
National territorial rights are recognised for all Arctic land areas. But the extent to which nations can control Arctic coastal waters is still unresolved. With the growth of the offshore oil industry in the Arctic, control of its water will become more important. The Arctic's strategic importance lies in its central position between North America, Europe, and Asia. Both the United Strates and the Soviet Union maintain air and missile defense systems in the region and radar installations to provide earky warning against attack.

Research and Environmental Protection
Most scientific research in the Arctic concentrates on its climate and its unusual geographical and physical characteristics. In addition, environmental research and protection have become increasingly important as new technology enables us to tap the mineral resources of the region. This is vital because the ecology of the Arctic can be easily disrupted or damaged and recovers very slowly and sometimes not at all. As a result, the United States, Canada and many European nations have established strict measures to protect this unique, fascinating, and invaluable region of the world.