8. The Arrival of Refrigeration Technology
By the early 20th century, mechanical refrigeration ushered in a new age for food preservation and transport. Electric-powered coolers gradually reached even the most isolated Western outposts, rendering the old ice routes obsolete. While the era of harvesting lake ice ended, this technological leap paved the way for today’s global cold chains, transforming economies and lifestyles alike. Smithsonian Magazine details the transition.
