Where is the Arctic and Antarctic? And how do these regions of the earth differ from each other? This question puzzles many people, even if they conscientiously studied geography at school. Our article will help to answer it.
The difference between the Arctic and the Antarctic
A fairly popular geographic mystery is: “Do polar bears eat penguins?” The brain of an adult immediately begins to build a logical chain of thoughts. Pictures from school books pop up in memory, where both animals are captured against the backdrop of eternal ice and harsh winter landscapes. The man argues as follows: polar bears are predators, and penguins are rather slow-moving birds, easy prey. Therefore, the former should gladly regale the latter.
However, everything is completely wrong! Not everyone will guess that these animals in the wild cannot meet at all, as they live in completely different parts of the world. One of them is the Arctic, and the other is Antarctica. Therefore, they can see each other except in some zoo.
Where the Arctic and Antarctica is located - this will be discussed further. What are the features of nature, climate and the organic world of these areas?
Where is the Arctic located? Brief description of the area
What is the difference between the Arctic, Antarctic and Antarctica? Let's try to understand this geographical issue.
Where is the Arctic on the globe? In what part of the world do you need to look for her?
At the very beginning, you need to remember that our planet Earth has two poles that are diametrically opposed to each other - North and South. This will help to better understand where the Arctic is, and where - the Antarctic.
So, the Arctic is the polar region of the Earth, directly adjacent to its North Pole. Geographically, it covers the Arctic Ocean, the northern extremities of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The Arctic also includes the outskirts of Eurasia and North America, as well as numerous islands.
Sometimes this physical-geographical macro-region is limited from the south to the Arctic Circle. The area of the region, depending on its southern borders, ranges from 21 to 27 million square kilometers.
Now you know where the Arctic is. What was the development of her man? And when did it start?
The history of the conquest of the Arctic and the North Pole
The Arctic has been populated for a long time. This is evidenced by numerous archaeological finds. So, man first appeared on the shores of the Arctic Ocean 30 thousand years ago. However, later it began to pull further north. There were also daredevils who wished to conquer the pole of the Earth.
A serious and systematic study of the area began in the second half of the 19th century. The most famous polar explorer of the time is the Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen. In particular, he went down in history by being the first to cross the ice shell of Greenland - the largest island on the planet. It happened in 1889.
Robert Peary is another important surname in the history of Arctic exploration. In 1908-1909, he organized an expedition that first reached the North Pole. Interestingly, the purpose of this campaign was only this record. The expedition did not conduct any scientific research.
7 amazing facts about the Arctic
The Arctic is an amazing region that is full of secrets, mysteries and unusual natural phenomena. Below are the most interesting facts about him:
- The organic world of the Arctic, despite such a harsh climate, is quite rich. Huge ice spaces are densely populated by polar bears, arctic foxes, lemmings, reindeer, dozens of species of birds and other animals. You can even meet here an ordinary crow!
- Five states immediately claim their rights to the Arctic, including Russia;
- The Arctic shelf, according to rough estimates of scientists, hides in itself over 100 billion tons of gas and oil;
- About 50 million years ago, the climate of the Arctic was much milder. Water in the Arctic Ocean at that time warmed up in the summer to + 15 ... 18 degrees!
- The Arctic is the region of the Earth that is most vulnerable to global processes of global warming;
- There are deserts not only in the tropical zone, but also in the Arctic. Only here they are called arctic;
- The very first voyage through the Arctic waters was made by the ancient Greek Pithaeus back in the 4th century BC.
Antarctica and Antarctica - where are they located?
Geographers call the Antarctic the southern circumpolar region of the Earth, which is located on the opposite side of the planet from the Arctic. It includes a huge land mass - the mainland of Antarctica, as well as the southern extremities of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Ocean (many foreign scientists identify in this area also the fifth ocean of the Earth - the South).
The northern border of Antarctica is rather arbitrary. Most often, it is carried out along the edge of the zone of floating ice (between 50-55 degrees south latitude). Thus, the total area of Antarctica is significantly higher than the Arctic, and is about 60 million square kilometers.
Antarctica, as mentioned above, is the sixth continent of planet Earth - the southernmost and coldest.
History of discovery and exploration of Antarctica
Already in the XVIII century, people assumed that in the south of our planet there is another continent. James Cook was the first to search for him in 1775. During his voyage around the world, he came close to the mysterious "Southern Land", discovering the South Sandwich Islands.
The discovery of the mainland of Antarctica took place in 1820 during the expedition of the Russian navigators F. Bellingshausen and MP P. Lazarev. After this, a series of discoveries and mapping of various seas, islands and lands in Antarctica began.
In 1911, two expeditions at once (one led by Royal Amundsen and the other by Robert Scott) set off to conquer the South Pole of the Earth. But luck smiled only at one of the groups of desperate daredevils. On December 14, 1911, Amundsen erected a Norwegian flag at the pole point. Scott's group reached the goal of the expedition 27 days later, with all its members killed on the way back.
The mainland Antarctica has significant mineral resource potential. However, the countries of the world signed an agreement on the “inviolability” of the continent’s bowels until 2048.
7 amazing facts about Antarctica
We bring to your attention 7 interesting facts about Antarctica and Antarctica:
- Antarctica is the coldest continent of the planet. In the 80s, the lowest temperature on Earth (-89 degrees) was recorded at the Soviet Vostok polar station;
- Antarctica is also the highest continent of the planet (primarily due to the massive ice cap, which in some places reaches a thickness of 1-1.5 km);
- Antarctica is the windiest and driest place on Earth (and this despite the fact that it contains up to 70% of all fresh water in the world);
- Antarctica is the only continent without a permanent population;
- There are 6 species of penguin in Antarctica. Among them are emperor penguins, which are distinguished by their large size;
- Huge blocks of ice periodically break off the ice shelves of the Antarctic. One of these was formed in 2000 and set off for free swimming. Its length reached 300 kilometers!
- There are no time zones in the Antarctic. The scientists who live here live according to the time of their states.
Museum of the Arctic and Antarctic
Do you know where the museum of the Arctic and Antarctic is located? Many do not even suspect the existence of such an institution. It turns out that such a museum exists!
It is located in the city of St. Petersburg, in the building of the former St. Nicholas single-faith church (24a Marat Street). In 1930, the temple was closed and this unusual museum was opened within its walls. It just introduces visitors to the history of the development and study of the Arctic and Antarctic.
The museum displays the equipment of polar explorers, unique instruments, rare photographs, models of ships and icebreakers, as well as numerous paintings by artists depicting the wild and harsh nature of the polar regions of the Earth.
Finally
Where is the Arctic, Antarctic and Antarctica located? Now you can easily answer this question and show the above areas on the globe. Despite the distance of thousands of kilometers between the Arctic and the Antarctic, there is much in common between them. In both parts of the planet it is extremely cold, there is a lot of snow, icebergs and ice, and almost no vegetation.