Denmark's expedition leaves for Arctic to stake claim

[struggle4progress]

Source: Xinhua

2007-08-12 13:40:06

STOCKHOLM, Aug. 12 -- Denmark sent a scientific expedition to the Arctic Sunday, joining the competition to stake claims over rights to the huge fuel and mineral resources under the North Pole's seabed, Danish news media reported.

The expedition is aimed at seeking evidence that the Lomonosov Ridge, a 1,240-mile (1,995-km) underwater mountain range, is attached to the Danish territory of Greenland, making it a geological extension of the Arctic island.

With the help of Sweden, the scientists set off from Norway's remote Arctic islands of Svalbard aboard the Swedish icebreaker Oden on the month-long expedition.

The team, composed of 40 scientists, 10 of them Danish, will employ sophisticated equipment, including sonar, to map the seabed under the ice of the Arctic. The expedition is expected to cost more than 11 million U.S. dollars. ~snip~

Read more: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-08/12/content_6517051.htm

[rodeodance]

1. plant that flag.

[rodeodance]

2. 25 percent of the world's undiscovered oil and gas could be hidden under the seabed of the Arctic re

A U.S. study suggested as much as 25 percent of the world's undiscovered oil and gas could be hidden under the seabed of the Arctic region.

[DRoseDARs]

3. They have as much a claim to the territory as Russia does ... which is to say "none." n/t

[LastDemocratInSC]

4. This reminds me of "The Mouse That Roared" with Peter Sellers

[Igel]

5. Watch it turn out that the Lomonosov Ridge actually

connects Danish territory and Russia, so that the Danes can assert a claim over all of Russia.

Putin, of course, would object on historical grounds. Then the Danes can add that they're the heirs of the Varangians, and since the line of Riurik's been removed, the nearest heir is actually the Danish crown--hence Putin should just submit to Danish sovereignty like a good Slav so they can be granted home rule.

[KDLarsen]

6. There's still a bit of uncertainty about that expedition

The Danish PM have stated that the north pole should be collectively owned by all of the world, and that no single nation should be able to claim it. The danish minister of science, however, have stated that it's the intention of the expedition to be able to make a claim of the north pole.

Should be interesting to watch though, I predict a Hans Island-style battle of wills :D