From Breaking Ships to Breaking Ice

One of the most passionate advocators for arctic exploration at that time was Canadian Vilhjalmur Stefansson. In addition to the argument of securing its natural resources, Stefansson asserted to the Canadian government that the Arctic was “strategically significant as the shortest route for airplanes and submarines going between Europe, Asia, and North America.” As the nations of the world debated on whether the Arctic was valuable, Stefansson urged the government “to grab as much unoccupied territory as possible while other nations still considered it worthless.” One of the most passionate advocators for arctic exploration at that time was Canadian Vilhjalmur Stefansson. In addition to the argument of securing its natural resources, Stefansson asserted to the Canadian government that the Arctic was “strategically significant as the shortest route for airplanes and submarines going between Europe, Asia, and North America.” As the nations of the world debated on whether the Arctic was valuable, Stefansson urged the government to grab as much unoccupied territory as possible while other nations still considered it worthless.