The Northwest Passage is so far north that only a polar projection map presents an accurate picture of its expanse. It has been both an integral part of Canada's national identity and a source of contention between the United States and Canada. Canadian claims that the Passage is internal Canadian waters have been challenged by United States insistence that it is an international strait. Continental partners and allies, the two countries have charted a unique course in continental cooperation, while concurrently working to resolve contentious bilateral issues. This study places the Northwest Passage in the context of U.S.-Canadian relations and argues that its resolution lies in the spirit and history of bilateral cooperation found in the second half of the twentieth century.
