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NORAD Has Santa On Radar

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 24, 2007

TAMPA - On Christmas Eve, the network of radar stations established to detect bomber or missile attacks on the U.S. and Canada turns its technology to tracking the global progress of Santa.

The military predecessor of the North American Air Defense Command started tracking Santa in 1955.

When NORAD was formed in 1958, the organization took over the annual Christmas Eve reports.

According to the tracking Santa Web site, it all started when a department store advertisement accidentally printed the number for the Continental Air Defense Command as the contact number for Santa.

The agency responded to the calls in Claus-like fashion and kept up the tradition.

The agency also notes that tax money is not used. Corporate sponsors pick up the cost.

The Web site that offers updates of Santa's progress around the world every five minutes.

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