Going off the cryptarch quote you can assume several things. Made dawned from Africa, which has a southern tip but no frozen north. South Africa has no frozen north, unless you count north america as its north. But the civilization of man did not begin in the Americas. This leaves Asia, with a frozen north (Russia) and a southern tip (India). However, the cryptarch says civilization existed there. Not originated, and not this one specifically. Humanity coveted the globe. At it really says is the continent we may be on right now has a southern tip and a frozen north But to answer your question. I believe the tower is close to the cosmodrome because of one sole reason. Why is the cosmodrome the front lines of our defense of earth? The place where we need to push back the hive and the fallen first and foremost? It would male sense if it is nearby. What is the farthest place in the world from Russia? Probably somewhere in south america. What is close to Russia and has giant snowcapped mountains? Nepal