Life in the North Pole
The geographic North Pole is the northernmost point on Earth's axis, located at 90 degrees northern latitude. The pole lies on the Arctic ice cap over the 13,410-foot deep Arctic Ocean; there are times when the North Pole is open water.
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Climate
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The North Pole's climate is inhospitable. During the six months of summer, it is always light and temperatures are around zero degrees Centigrade. The six months of winter are complete darkness and temperatures drop to thirty-plus degrees below zero.
Animal Life
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North Pole animals have adapted to their environment by developing a thick layer of fat to shield them from cold, and they are white in color. Animals that live near the North Pole include polar bears, narwhals and Arctic terns.
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Humans
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The North Pole is uninhabited by humans, but many have attempted expeditions. Robert Peary and his team made it by dogsled in 1909, Richard Byrd and Floyd Bennett arrived by plane in 1926, and in 1958 the U.S. Nautilus submarine glided underneath the North Pole.
Globalization
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The North Pole is connected to the rest of the planet. Pollutants like toxic metals travel through the atmosphere and can end up in the food supply of the North Pole.
Global Warming
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The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment declared in 2004 that the Arctic ice cap is melting so fast that half of it may be gone by 2100.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit U.S. Navy: Polar Bears Near the North Pole http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Polar_bears_near_north_pole.jpg
