The term "DEW LINE" refers to a series of radar stations installed in the late 1950s to detect potential Soviet air attacks on North America. Synonyms for the term DEW LINE include the Distant Early Warning Line, the Arctic Early Warning System, and the Northern Radar Warning Chain. These synonyms all describe a network of radar stations situated in northern Canada and Alaska, designed to provide early warning of any potential missile threats from across the North Pole. The DEW LINE played a pivotal role in the early years of the Cold War and eventually evolved into modern-day radar systems that continue to protect North America from potential threats.