Arctic ice has shrunk to some 1 million square miles. The previous low was 1.5 million square miles, in 2005.

The European Space Agency said nearly 200 satellite photos this month taken together showed an ice-free passage along northern Canada, Alaska and Greenland, and ice retreating to its lowest level since such images were first taken in 1978.

Result? The waters are exposing unexplored resources, and vessels could trim thousands of miles from Europe to Asia by bypassing the Panama Canal. The seasonal ebb and flow of ice levels has already opened up a slim summer window for ships.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070916/...6Zu5PRNTkE1vAI

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