NORAD & Google Santa Claus Trackers

NORAD, The North American Aerospace Defense Command monitors airspace in North America and is tracking Santa’s journey around the world and live tweeting the entire adventure. For 60 years, the government agency has helped people of all ages track Santa on his trek around the world.

It started back in 1955, when a local Sears store in Colorado Springs printed a newspaper ad, inviting kids to call a certain phone number and talk to Santa. If you’re curious about Santa’s whereabouts, never fear – the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has you covered! Col. Harry Shoup, the director of operations, instructed his staff to check the radar for signs of Santa traveling south from the North Pole and give the children updates.

A tradition was born, and NORAD has opened up its phone lines for its annual Santa Tracker ever since. The tradition has continued for 60 years, to the delight of children and parents.

Most of these contacts happen during the 25 hours from 2 a.m. on December 24 until 3 a.m. MST on December 25. As with Google, you can load the NORAD Tracks Santa website on smartphones and tablets, too.

Last year, NORAD received more than 134,000 phone calls and answered over 6,500 emails.

Sixty years later, Colorado’s Peterson Air Force Base is still tracking St. Nick as he distributes presents across the globe.

When Santa approaches Canadian airspace from the northeast, he will be joined by his escort – two CF-18 Hornets from CFB Bagotville in Quebec.

Santa Claus is prepared for all weather when he shimmies down chimneys on Christmas Eve. There are also volunteers who speak different languages, including Spanish and French.

Volunteers will also share Santa’s location on Facebook and Twitter.

The part about a kid dialing into CONAD asking about Santa was true, but it was in late November, not Christmas Eve.

While waiting for Santa to arrive at their home, children can visit www.noradsanta.org for music, games, videos, stories and more.