Geopolitics & Trade · Powers
US geography: the great advantage
Two oceans, friendly neighbors and the world's best river network made the US a natural superpower.
Step 1 of 4 · Overview15 min read ·
Atlantic & Pacific
moats + trade access
Mississippi basin
navigable rivers link farm belt to Gulf
Great Plains
huge farmland
Resources
oil, gas, coal, minerals
The Mississippi river system has more navigable miles than much of the rest of the world combined, letting Midwest grain reach global markets cheaply via New Orleans. Two oceans made invasion impractical.
Key idea
Based on themes from Tim Marshall's *Prisoners of Geography*. Geography isn't destiny, but it sets the board.Next: Practice