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The Poles: Comparing the Poles

The biggest difference is that the Arctic region is essentially a frozen ocean surrounded by continents. Antarctica is a continent surrounded by an ocean. And even though the Arctic is mostly a frozen ocean, the Arctic climate is more hospitable to human and animal life than the ice-locked Antarctic continent. See a simple comparison below:

Physical Features

Antarctica

Arctic

Antarctica

Antarctica has mountains and volcanoes

Arctic

The Arctic is mostly ice covered ocean

Antarctica

The Antarctic is a continent surrounded by ocean

Arctic

The Arctic is an ocean surrounded by continents

Antarctica

Maximum sea ice extent: 8 million square miles

Arctic

Maximum sea ice extent: 7 million square miles

Antarctica

The area is 6 million square miles

Arctic

The area is 5.4 million square miles

Antarctica

The annual mean temperature at the South Pole is -60F

Arctic

The annual mean temperature at the North Pole is 0°F

Antarctica

Total coastline: 18,000 miles

Arctic

Total coastline: 25,000 miles

Plants & Wildlife

Antarctica

Arctic

Antarctica

Antarctica has penguins

Arctic

The Arctic has polar bears

Antarctica

No tundra or tree lines

Arctic

The tundra is well developed and marked by a tree shrubline

Antarctica

No terrestrial mammals

Arctic

Terrestrial mammals include musk ox, reindeer, caribou, foxes, hares, wolves, lemming, bears, and more

Antarctica

Marine mammals include whales, porpoises and seals

Arctic

Marine mammals include whales, porpoises, seals, and amphibious mammals

Human Impact

Antarctica

Arctic

Antarctica

Antarctica has no permanent population

Arctic

The Arctic has a native population

Antarctica

No record of primitive humans and no native groups

Arctic

There are native people with a long cultural record

Antarctica

There are no permanent residents at 60°S, but there is a sparse population at scattered scientific stations

Arctic

Human population north of 60°N is in excess of 2 million with modern settlements

Antarctica

First crossing of the Antarctic Circle was by James Cook on January 17, 1773

Arctic

The first crossing of the Arctic Circle is prehistoric

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Seasons

extreme weather

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Weather

melting ice

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Human Impact

Antarctica

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Location/Geography

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Ocean Circulation

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Ecosystem

The Arctic

arctic geography

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Location/Geography

arctic circulation

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Ocean Circulation

arctic ecosystem

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Ecosystem

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