Why Ships AVOID the Arctic Route Above Russia

Video Description

The Arctic route above Russia looks like the perfect shortcut -faster, shorter, and free of the chaos that clogs major shipping lanes. So why do most ships still avoid it? Attributions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ever_Given#/media/File:Container_Ship_'Ever_Given'_stuck_in_the_Suez_Canal,_Egypt_-_March_24th,_2021_cropped.jpg If you enjoyed this, subscribe to MapPack for more weekly geography deep dives. We explore how geography, borders, nature, and history shape our world. Want to keep learning? Check out these playlists for similar content: 📌 50 Facts Series: Truths You Won’t Believe – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxBZ8ukPsNBlbxf88UDgxfKl8GYfPInj0 📌 INSANE Facts!!! – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxBZ8ukPsNBmhl-VA4Qu5Ddvzm5M2ecyV ___________________________________________________________________________________ Chapters: 0:00 – Intro 0:33 – The Northeast Passage: A Tempting Shortcut 1:07 – Ice, Storms, and Sky-High Insurance 1:45 – The Centuries-Old Hunt for a Shortcut 2:30 – Europe’s Brutal Route Around Africa 3:10 – The Northwest Passage: Deadly Obsession 3:55 – Russia Turns to the Northeast Passage 4:35 – The Vega Expedition Finally Breaks Through 5:20 – But Suez Changes Global Trade Overnight 6:05 – Panama Canal Finishes the Job 7:05 – Two Canals Holding the World Hostage 7:50 – Russia’s Arctic Dream Refuses to Die 8:40 – Why the Arctic Route Looks So Attractive 9:23 – Suez Chaos: Blockages, Attacks, and Delays 10:40 – Panama’s Drought Hits Global Shipping 11:25 – Melting Ice Opens New Arctic Opportunities 12:35 – But the Arctic Still Isn’t Open Water 13:28 – The Icebreaker Arms Race Begins 14:20 – The Arctic: Shallow, Unknown, and Dangerous 15:00 – What Happens When a Ship Breaks Down Here? 15:52 – China’s Malacca Problem and the Polar Silk Road 17:00 – A Decade of Rising Arctic Traffic (Sort Of) 18:00 – Sanctions Freeze Russia’s Arctic Ambitions 19:00 – China Pulls Back… Then Slips North Anyway 19:47 – The Northern Route Still Lacks Basic Infrastructure 20:30 – Climate Change Won’t Fully Open the Arctic 21:15 – The Price Tag: Icebreakers, Fees, and Premiums 22:10 – A Geopolitical Minefield in the Making 23:00 – Why the Suez Still Wins (Even With the Risks) 24:10 – South = Protected. North = You’re On Your Own 24:55 – Why the Arctic Is Still the World’s Worst Shortcut