This activity is part of a larger set of activities and presentations developed by the Michigan Geographic Alliance to help teachers meet the proposed Social Studies standards in 6th and 7th grade. The Michigan Geographic Alliance website also has explanatory presentations, supplementary maps, and readings. In this 20-40 minute intermediate activity, students use a simple map to assess the physical and political conditions along four different routes for a pipeline from the oil discoveries in Kazakhstan, north of the Caspian Sea. The transition between places can be as important as the conditions at each place. Much can be learned from even a quick study of conditions that promote or hinder connections.