The Arctic is
the northernmost region of Earth
. Most scientists define the Arctic as the area within the Arctic Circle, a line of latitude about 66.5° north of the Equator. … The Arctic is almost entirely covered by water, much of it frozen. Some frozen features, such as glaciers and icebergs, are frozen freshwater.
What are the characteristics of the Arctic?
Conditions typical of Arctic lands are extreme fluctuations between summer and winter temperatures;
permanent snow and ice in the high country and grasses, sedges, and low shrubs in the lowlands
; and permanently frozen ground (permafrost), the surface layer of which is subject to summer thawing.
What defines the Arctic Circle?
Arctic Circle, parallel, or line of latitude around the Earth, at
approximately 66°30′ N
. Because of the Earth’s inclination of about 23
1
/
2
° to the vertical, it marks the southern limit of the area within which, for one day or more each year, the Sun does not set (about June 21) or rise (about December 21).
What is technically the Arctic?
The Arctic (/ˈɑːrtɪk/ or /ˈɑːrktɪk/) is
a polar region located at the northernmost part of Earth
. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean, adjacent seas, and parts of Alaska (United States), Canada, Finland, Greenland (Denmark), Iceland, Norway, Russia, and Sweden.
What makes the Arctic unique?
The Arctic is the most unusual region on our planet and it is not surprising that it is called enigmatic and mysterious, because this region is hiding many miracles. The Arctic has a unique nature –
the giant expanses of ice and snow
, huge icebergs of the most incredible and bizarre forms, drifting in the arctic seas.
Does anyone live in the Arctic?
In total,
only about 4 million people live in the Arctic worldwide
, and in most countries indigenous people make up a minority of the Arctic population. … The Inuit in Canada and Greenland, and the Yu’pik, Iñupiat, and Athabascan in Alaska, are just a few of the groups that are native to the Arctic.
What country is the closest to the North Pole?
The Canadian territory of Nunavut
lies closest to the North Pole. Greenland, the world’s largest island and an independent country within the Kingdom of Denmark, is also close to the pole. The North Pole is much warmer than the South Pole.
Why is the Arctic so important?
Why the Arctic is so important
The Arctic is crucial for lots of reasons. Not just because it’s home to the iconic polar bear, and four million people, but also because it
helps keep our world’s climate in balance
. … The Arctic also helps circulate the world’s ocean currents, moving cold and warm water around the globe.
Did you know facts about the Arctic?
The name ‘Arctic’ comes from a Greek word meaning ‘near the bear’. The coldest recorded temperature in the Arctic is around −68 °C (−90 °F). Over recent years, the Arctic region has
shrunk
due to global warming. Small shrubs can grow in warmer parts of the Arctic, as well as various herbs, mosses and lichens.
What is the Arctic known for?
Due to thermohaline circulation, the Arctic’s
thick, reflective sea ice moderates ocean temperatures
around the world. The Arctic experiences the extremes of solar radiation. During the Northern Hemisphere’s winter months, the Arctic is one of the coldest and darkest places on Earth.
Do polar bears live in Antarctica?
Polar bears live in the Arctic, but
not Antarctica
. Down south in Antarctica you’ll find penguins, seals, whales and all kinds of seabirds, but never polar bears. Even though the north and south polar regions both have lots of snow and ice, polar bears stick to the north. … Polar bears don’t live in Antarctica.
Does Arctic mean cold?
Both the Arctic (North Pole) and the Antarctic (South Pole)
are cold because they don’t get any direct sunlight
. The Sun is always low on the horizon, even in the middle of summer. In winter, the Sun is so far below the horizon that it doesn’t come up at all for months at a time.
Is the Arctic the coldest place on Earth?
The Arctic Circle is located at a latitude of 66°33’44” north of the Equator. … Bottom line:
Antarctica
, Greenland and Siberia are among the coldest places on Earth. The lowest surface air temperature ever observed on Earth was recorded at the Vostok research station in Antarctica on July 21, 1983.
Is the Arctic beautiful?
The Arctic is one of the most stark and
beautiful places on Earth
. Vast expanses of pack ice cover deep ocean composing the planet’s largest and least fragmented inhabited region. Home to an array of species—from polar bears to whales—the Arctic faces threats from oil and gas development and a changing climate.
How many animals are in the Arctic?
Over 5,500 species
of animals live in the Arctic.
Why is the Arctic Circle in danger?
Glaciers are
melting
in the Arctic Circle region. Evidence has shown the Arctic is warming faster than other regions on Earth, causing glaciers and other ice to melt during the summer months. This means that Arctic animals’ habitats, or their homes, are disappearing.
