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NORTH AMERICA LOOKS NORTH TO EURASIA

This orthographic projection centered near the center of the North American land mass (50 N, 95 W) proclaims the death of American isolation. Toward the southwest is the great insulating Ocean of the Pacific with only one rather long hop to the nearest of the Pacific islands. To the southeast the 1,800 mile gap can be crossed in a matter of hours by a plane, while on the northeast and northwest the steppingstones are so close that water is not an air barrier to either Europe or Asia.

EURASIA LOOKS NORTH TO NORTH AMERICA

Centered on the same meridian but across the Pole near the up-and-coming lumber port of Igarka, this map gives the World Island view of North America. The Arctic Mediterranean is shown as an arm of the North Atlantic. It is certainly an effective barrier to surface navigation except around its fringes, but as an air obstacle it has lost most of its effectiveness. That Eurasia is the ultimate in “defense in depth” is shown by the fact that the new industrial centers of Siberia are closer to North America than they are to many a strategic area of Asia.

CROSSROADS OF THE ATLANTIC

Air travel between North America and Europe, shows a strong northward trend. However until climatic obstacles are technically solved, the southern route will still be used. This map shows the propinquity of neighbors across the South Atlantic. Note how the Strait of Natal-Dakar becomes a crossroad of routes between Northern and Southern Hemispheres. [Orthographic projection centered 25 N, 40 W.]