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human
[Avatar: TLAB/LOK] Why aren’t the Water Tribes a maritime global superpower?

Something that’s always intrigued me is the fact that the Water Tribes (or at least the Northern Water Tribe) didn’t establish some sort of maritime empire akin to the British Empire. I mean, imagine if the Northern Water Tribe managed to expand its reach from the North Pole down to the northern shores of the Earth Kingdom, propping up colonies along the way. I don’t know if they’d be the strongest nation but they’d be economically powerful, especially if they can control and manipulate maritime trade routes/international shipping lanes, strategic ports, canals, etc. This would give them a major economic advantage that gives them massive leverage.

Militarily speaking, I’d argue that they would possess the most powerful navy in the world, leading in the realm of naval/amphibious expeditionary warfare doctrine, naval engineering, etc.

Obviously the relatively small population and lack of substantial natural resources is a major hindrance towards a hypothetical Water Empire. Their geographic isolation probably also doesn’t help them with expanding. But what other reasons may contribute towards the Water Tribes to not being a global superpower?
gpt
They have been at other times in history. But the 100 year war decimated the Southern tribe, and forced the Northern tribe into seclusion. Even with the advantage of waterbending the Fire Navy was simply too advanced for them to hold onto control of the sea with.