Mapping the Northeast Passage: Arctic Expeditions

The Northeast Passage—the icy route linking the Atlantic and Pacific through the Arctic Ocean—is a frontier of exploration and logistics. For creators documenting modern expeditions or historical voyages, mapping the "high north" requires a specific set of tools.

The Polar Perspective

Standard maps distort the Arctic significantly.

1. Open the style selector and ensure you are using Globe Projection. This is the only way to accurately show the journey across the top of the planet.
2. Select the Satellite style to see the realistic ice-edge and tundra textures of northern Siberia and Canada.

Plotting an Arctic Route

Because there are no road networks, use the Route Tool in Direct Mode.

• Place waypoints along the Russian or Canadian coastline.
• Set the Color to Cyan or Neon Blue to represent a cold, icy theme.
• Use Dashed Lines to indicate areas where icebreakers are required.

Capturing the Cold 3D Landscape

• Camera Tilt: Right Click + Drag to see the terrain. In the Arctic, this highlights the dramatic coastal features and polar valleys.
• Slide Timeline: Use your Storyboard to create a series of waypoints (Slide 1: Murmansk, Slide 2: The Bering Strait).
• Set the Easing to Smooth for a steady, glacial pace.

Before you share your polar project, make sure to let the Studio rendering preparation. This ensures the high-resolution ice and sea textures are perfectly captured in your final export.