APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110018-4
key transportation, communication, political, and economic centers of the country. The narrow straits afford passage and control of shipping between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea and, strategically, are the most important geographic feature in the NIS Area. If the Kiel Canal (suitable for vessels drawing 51 feet) were blocked, these straits would be the only practicable water link between the North and Baltic Seas. From east to west, the straits are The Sound, Store Baelt, and Lille Baelt. The Sound, between Sweden and Sjaelland, has a minimum width of about 2 nautical miles. The two navigation channels in the strait (east and west) have minimum depths of 23 and 26 feet, respectively; the main channel (west) has a minimum width of about 1 nautical mile. The Store Baelt, between Sjaellend and Fyn, is the widest and deepest of the straits, but has the most constricted navigation channel. The minimum width of the Store Baelt is approximately 9 nautical miles, but the winding navigation channel, which has a minimum depth of 42 feet, narrows to as little as 200 yards. The Lille Baelt, between Jutland and Fyn, is the narrowest of the straits—650 yards wide at its most constricted part. Its navigation channel has a minimum width of 400 yards and a minimum depth of 39 feet. Ice conditions in the three straits vary greatly from year to year, but all are navigable in normal winters. In severe winters ice may be a hindrance in January and February and occasionally in March. Besides being in a position to afford control of shipping between the North Sea and Baltic Sea, the strategic area also is astride important routes between West Germany and Sweden. The area contains Copenhagen (Figure 15), the largest metropolitan area (population about 1,344,000) and the political and economic core of the country. The metropolitan area of Copenhagen contains more than one-fourth of the population of Denmark. The city has the largest naval base and the only free port in the country. Strategically important industries, although concentrated in Copenhagen, are located throughout the strategic area. The largest industries are food processing, followed by production of machinery, chemicals, and electrical equipment. Other important industries include shipbuilding and ship repair, production and assembly of transportation equipment, and production of metalware products. Three petroleum refineries in the area have all of the country's throughput capacity. There are numerous ports and airfields in the area, including five of the six largest ports. Copenhagen along handles about 20% of the total tonnage of exports and imports. Of the 50 airfields, most are small and have natural surfaces. Strategically important are the main commercial field, largest in the country, southeast of Copenhagen (Figure 16), and military airfields northwest of Copenhagen and along the northern and western edges of the strategic area. All of these have important roles in NATO planning.
D. Internal routes (C)
The internal routes (Figure 19) afford the easiest avenues of movement from the West German land approach to the strategic area and from the amphibious landing area near Lokken to the strategic area; three other amphibious landing areas are in the strategic area.
The internal routes between the land approach from Flensburg, West Germany, and Copenhagen is across flat to rolling plains. Vegetation consists mostly of cultivated crops and a few small patches of forest. The route contains a railroad and a road. The railroad is 4'8½" gage and in good condition; it is single track from the border to a point a few miles west of Kolding and double track elsewhere. It utilizes a ferry to cross the Store Baelt. The road, which generally parallels
FIGURE 15. Copenhagen is the principal port. The port facilities extend along both sides of the waterway that divides the city. This view shows the densely built up central city. (C) (photo)
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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200110018-4
