| Physical features |
 |
 |
| Antarctica has mountains and volcanoes |
The Arctic is mostly ice covered ocean |
| The Antarctic is a continent surrounded by ocean |
The Arctic is an ocean surrounded by continents |
| Maximum sea ice extent: 8 million square miles |
Maximum sea ice extent: 7 million square miles |
| The area is 6 million square miles |
The area is 5.4 million square miles |
| The annual mean temperature at the South Pole is -60°F |
The annual mean temperature at the North Pole is 0°F |
| Total coastline: 18,000 miles |
Total coastline: 25,000 miles |
| Plants and wildlife |
 |
 |
| Antarctica has penguins |
The Arctic has polar bears |
| No tundra or tree lines |
The tundra is well developed and marked by a tree shrubline |
| No terrestrial mammals |
Terrestrial mammals include musk ox, reindeer, caribou, foxes, hares, wolves, lemming, bears, and more |
| Marine mammals include whales, porpoises and seals |
Marine mammals include whales, porpoises, seals, and amphibious mammals |
| Human impact |
 |
 |
| Antarctica has no permanent population |
The Arctic has a native population |
| No record of primitive humans and no native groups |
There are native people with a long cultural record |
| There are no permanent residents at 60°S, but there is a sparse population at scattered scientific stations |
Human population north of 60°N is in excess of 2 million with modern settlements |
| First crossing of the Antarctic Circle was by James Cook on January 17, 1773 |
The first crossing of the Arctic Circle is prehistoric |
