(NewsNation) — The countdown to Christmas is on, and as Santa Claus and his reindeer race around the world, the North American Aerospace Defense Command is tracking his flight every step of the way.
For nearly 70 years, NORAD has tracked Santa’s Christmas Eve flight as he races to deliver presents to children worldwide. According to the agency, its NORAD Tracks Santa website receives nearly 15 million visits from more than 200 countries each year. More than 1,000 military and civilian volunteers help to answer tens of thousands of incoming calls and emails from expectant children looking for status updates on Santa’s flight.
According to NORAD, the tradition began in 1955 when a young girl accidentally called an unlisted number for the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The girl thought she was calling Santa Claus after seeing a promotion in a local newspaper and was reassured by Air Force Col. Harry Shoup that his team would make sure the merry man had a safe journey from the North Pole. The responsibility of tracking Santa Claus was taken on by NORAD when it was formed in 1958.
While NORAD can track Santa’s flight, the agency says it is unable to predict where and when he will arrive — though their research has found he only comes once children are asleep.
As for his route, the agency notes that Santa’s trip usually takes about 24 hours and tends to start at the International Date Line over the Pacific Ocean before traveling west. As of early Wednesday morning, NORAD showed Santa Claus making his way across the Pacific Ocean, stopping in New Zealand and Tonga.
Any families looking to speak with a Santa Tracker at NORAD on Christmas Eve can give the agency a call at 1-877-HI-NORAD (1-877-446-6723).