Where the Arctic gets messy

The Arctic oil rush is going to be messy. Need proof? Look no further than this new map from researchers at Durham University — the first of its kind to delineate countries’ current territorial claims and predict where disputes may arise in the future. The U.S. Geological Survey last month revealed that as much as ...

593399_080808_arctic5.jpg
593399_080808_arctic5.jpg

The Arctic oil rush is going to be messy. Need proof? Look no further than this new map from researchers at Durham University -- the first of its kind to delineate countries' current territorial claims and predict where disputes may arise in the future.

The Arctic oil rush is going to be messy. Need proof? Look no further than this new map from researchers at Durham University — the first of its kind to delineate countries’ current territorial claims and predict where disputes may arise in the future.

The U.S. Geological Survey last month revealed that as much as a fifth of the world’s undiscovered oil and gas reserves may be in the Arctic, with perhaps as many as 90 billion barrels of oil, enough to meet current global demand for nearly three years at current rates. Heads-up to the six countries with territorial rights: Iceland, U.S., Canada, Russia, Norway and Denmark. Get ready for the scramble.

(Hat tip: Popular Science)

Carolyn O'Hara is a senior editor at Foreign Policy.

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