North pole

North Pole

The North Pole is the northernmost point on the Earth, lying diametrically opposite the South Pole. It defines geodetic latitude 90° North, as well as the direction of true north. At the North Pole all directions point south; all lines of longitude converge there, so its longitude can be defined as any degree value.

Geography

The North Pole is located in the middle of the Arctic Ocean amid waters that are almost permanently covered with constantly shifting sea ice. This makes it impractical to construct a permanent station at the North Pole (unlike the South Pole). However, the Soviet Union, and later Russia, have constructed drifting manned ice stations, a generally annually established since 1937.

Climate

The North Pole has a polar climate (Köppen ET, similar to Antarctica). The weather is extremely variable, at times capable of severe storms. Temperatures rarely reach above freezing point even in summer.

Exploration

The first recorded attempt to reach the North Pole was led by British explorer William Edward Parry in 1827, who reached 82°45′ North latitude. The first confirmed attainment of the Pole was by Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and his US sponsor Lincoln Ellsworth by airship in 1926.

Wildlife

Despite the harsh conditions, a number of animals have adapted to survive in the North Pole region. These include the polar bear, Arctic fox, reindeer, and several species of seals and whales.

See also

• South Pole
• Polar exploration
• Arctic Ocean
• Climate of the Arctic

External links

• Norwegian Polar Institute
• NOAA's Arctic Theme Page