North Pole Facts
The north pole is that spot on Earth where an imaginary line drawn through the planet's rotational axis would come out. It is the exact opposite point in the world from the south pole and at the north pole every direction is south and all lines of longitude meet at this point. The north pole experiences bitterly frigid winters and cold summers and has been the focus of major exploration expeditions over time.
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Arctic Ocean
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The north pole is on top of the Arctic ice pack which is floating on the Arctic Ocean, thus there is no land there. The Arctic Ocean at this point is more than 13,000 feet deep.
Pole Firsts
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The individual that is recognized as being the first human at the north pole is Robert Perry, who accomplished this with an expedition pulled by dog sleds on April 6th, 1906. The first people to pass over the north pole via airplane were Richard Byrd and Floyd Bennett on May 9th, 1926 while the nuclear submarine "USS Nautilus" passed beneath the pole in 1958.
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Weather
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The average winter temperatures at the north pole range between -45 degrees F and -15. In the summer the mercury can rise to the freezing point but can also plummet to zero.
Wildlife
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Polar bear footprints have been discovered within a mile of the north pole and seals have been observed near the area. The narwhal, a whale with a long tusk, also is capable of being near the north pole.
Kaffeklubben Island
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Kaffeklubben Island is a tiny island that sits off of northern Greenland. This island is acknowledged as the piece of land that is the closest to the north pole, being 440 miles away from it.
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