http://www.civilization.ca/membrs/canhist/frobisher/images/frbef
02b.jpg
Apparently Mercator had reason to believe that there was a land
at the pole. Note the "four rivers" system, similar to the Biblical
description of Eden (which I think is just coincidence, btw). The
identical origin of the "four rivers," if freshwater, would be
impossible, would it not? Unless the central area is actually
indicative of the large interior of the planet from which the rivers
(and icebergs?) come.
--Mike