The Arctic is the region around the North Pole. It is located at the opposite end of the planet from the South Pole and the continent of Antarctica . It is neither a country nor a continent. It is an ocean known as the Arctic Ocean, which is surrounded by continental land masses and islands. The central area of the Arctic Ocean is covered by ice throughout the year and most of the land in the region is frozen and covered with snow most of the year.
Some parts of Canada , Greenland, Russia, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Alaska are within the Arctic region. Although the Inuit have been traveling and exploring the Arctic region for thousands of years, primarily in search of food and supplies, the region was ‘ discovered ‘ in the 1800s by European explorers who were in search of a passage by the Northwest towards the East.
The exact dimensions or limits of the Arctic region are vague. Some sources claim the region covers around 7 million square kilometers. In general, the southern limit of the region is considered the Arctic Circle. This is an imaginary line located at a latitude of 66 degrees, 32 minutes north. Above it, the phenomena of the midnight sun (the sun never sets) and the polar night (the sun does not “rise”) are an unrepeatable experience.
The Arctic region is considered one of the few continuous natural spaces that exist in the world. The southern Arctic is characterized by its plains and low hills. It also has lakes, rivers, and forests. Further north, the trees are smaller and scarcer, and the glacial formations are larger. The highest point is Mount Gunnbjörn, located in Greenland, which measures 12,139 meters.