The Giant North Pole Map

You cannot miss the map inside Mission Control.

It covers almost an entire wall.

The Giant North Pole Map shows continents, oceans, countries, major cities, islands and thousands of location markers. But this isn’t an ordinary map.

It comes alive on Christmas Eve.

Before Santa leaves, the map displays his planned route. Navigation elves use it to review the journey and identify areas where weather could affect the flight.

Once Santa takes off, a special sleigh marker begins moving across the display.

As he enters a new part of the world, sections of the map illuminate. Mission Control can zoom into regions, examine weather conditions and compare Santa’s current location with the planned route.

Around the edges are clocks showing times in different parts of the world. That matters because Christmas arrives at different times depending on where you live.

The map also receives information from other Mission Control stations. Weather warnings can appear over affected regions. Navigation changes are displayed as new route lines. Reindeer and sleigh status information appears beside Santa’s marker.

Tracking elves spend all night watching the display.

But perhaps the most exciting moment comes near the end of the journey.

After traveling around the world, Santa’s marker finally turns north.

The route line stretches back toward home.

And when the sleigh crosses into North Pole airspace, the entire map flashes one message:

WELCOME HOME, SANTA.