The latitudes between 60° and 70° are vital for representing northerly ethnicities. Despite the Greyhawk map being "Americesque" (I think this is the first time I have used this term) − including North, Central, and South Americas − it lacks these northerly areas. The Greyhawk map ends at 55° and even the wider map of East Oerik ends at about 62°. Denmark is within the latitudes of the map but not its context within the Nordic Lands.
With regard to the Greyhawk map, obviously it needs to be Indigenous Canadians and Indigenous Alaskans who need to be making the following decisions. Tentatively, as far as I can tell, the following might work. I am unsure where to put the regions of Siberia-Alaska-Yukon-Northwest. Probably they will be regions across Hyperborea across a vast swath of dense forest. It seems the Land of Black Ice is a suitable location to represent the Nunavut, the main region of the Inuit. Most of it comprises islands whose sea freezes over during winters, allowing for a livelihood of seminomadic migrations, mainly fishing and hunting.
For the Black Ice to work for these Indigenous, it must be suitably inhabitable. In other words, its climate and microclimates compare well to the areas of Nunavut beyond the 60° latitude.
The "black ice" of the Black Ice is harmless and drinkable when it melts. As far as I am aware, its only two qualities are that the region itself is unexpectedly cool for its latitude, and that any water that freezes becomes a blue-black crystal instead of a colorless crystal. So far, the reason for this regional phenomenon is unexplained by the mages of Flanaess, but is assumed to be magical nature. When black ice melts it becomes normal clear water again. The fluffiness sotospeak of the snow makes it appear more whitish against the midnight color of the solid glacial ice. Water brought in from elsewhere likewise freezes this way while within the Black Ice. It is normal water despite its surprising crystalline color when freezing.
Black Ice includes many geothermic regions that melt ice via hot springs. These local oases provide water sources for fish and other wildlife, but these areas remain treeless, and some freeze up seasonally. Generally speaking, the land can support Inuit whose culture maintains the skills necessary to adapt to this regional environment.
Note, the fantasy version of Inuit arent Flan and are significantly distinct from Flan who correspond other Indigenous in North America, but they share prehistoric ancestry.
The 1980 and 1983 map of East Oerik is in a post above, and depicts most of the borders of Black Ice. Its upper peninsula is cut off, but there isnt much more to it. Below is a closeup of the Black Ice from the cartographer Anna B Meyers. Its political boundaries refer to the Common Year 596. However the 2024 Greyhawk map is two decades earlier in CY 576 so the political boundaries never happened, but most of it is recognizable anyway. In the context of this thread and its discussion of latitudes, it is clear that the Icy Bay freezes over entirely every winter, and this is a normal annual cycle. From the looks of the map below, it appears to be early winter when the snows have begun to arrive but the bay hasnt frozen over yet. I love this map because it is very beautiful and conveys a clear sense of the terrains that the 1980 and 2024 canons describe.
The Black Ice seems useful for fantasy adventures that draw inspiration from reallife Inuit.
