PETERSON AFB, Colorado, 25 Dec. 2007. North American Aerospace Defense Command's NORAD Tracks Santa Operations Center kicked into high gear beginning at 2 a.m. MST Dec. 24, 2007. During the 24 hours the center operated, approximately 800 Santa tracking volunteers cycled through answering telephone calls and e-mails from children around the world who wish to get a fix on Santa Claus' whereabouts.

The NORAD Tracks Santa Web site, www.noradsanta.org, went live Nov. 16 garnered 330,000 unique visitors from 167 countries.

This year, the public and children participated directly in the following ways:

• Children and parents counted down with the NORAD Tracks Santa Web site at www.noradsanta.org where there was a different activity occurring in the North Pole Village every day. On Dec. 24, children closely followed Santa's progress around the world. Information was available in English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, and Spanish.

• Children also received updates on Santa's Christmas Eve journey by calling the traditional "NORAD Tracks Santa" telephone hotline at 1-877-HI NORAD, or by e-mailing NORAD at noradtrackssanta@gmail.com. The NORAD Tracks Santa Operations Center was operational for 24 hours beginning at 2:00 a.m. MST on Dec. 24.