As seen on Reels · 90-second aha
Why Chicago to Delhi flies over the pole
On a flat map, Chicago to Delhi is a straight line across the Atlantic. Real flights head north, over Greenland. Why?
1 · Bet first
Which way is the shortest Chicago → Delhi route?
2 · Try it
Spin the globe by dragging it. Compare the green great circle with the dashed straight map line.
3 · Why
Flat maps stretch the far north. On a ball, the shortest path is a great circle, which bends toward the pole: 12,024 km, topping out at 79.6°N, versus 14,975 km for the straight map line.
4 · Twist
Los Angeles → Dubai. How far north does the shortest route go?
The great circle peaks at 84.4°N, about 630 km from the North Pole. It is 13,391 km, against 16,773 km along the straight map line. Pick the pair in the widget to see it.
Done · you got the aha
Now test your gut in the Paradox Lab →