Top Facts about the North Pole for kids!
There are two North Poles – the North Pole and the Magnetic North Pole!
The difference between the North Pole and the Magnetic North Pole.
The North Pole is a geographic pole, with a stationary location at 90-degrees North. This geographic North Pole, is also known as True North, and is the fixed northernmost point on earth from which all points lie south.
The Magnetic North Pole is not based on True North, but on the magnetosphere of the planet. The Magnetic North Pole lies hundreds of miles from True North, with its exact position constantly moving.
Watch this video and see what it’s like at the North Pole!
Interesting Facts about The North Pole!
- The North Pole is also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole.
- The North Pole is the northernmost point on Earth, lying directly opposite the South Pole.
- At the North Pole all directions point south.
- The North Pole is located in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, in waters that are almost always covered with constantly moving sea ice.
- The North Pole is a lot warmer than the South Pole because it lies at sea level in the middle of an ocean (which acts as a source of heat), rather than at altitude in a continental land mass like the South Pole.
- Winter (January) temperatures at the North Pole can range from about −43 °C (−45 °F) to −26 °C (−15 °F), perhaps averaging around −34 °C (−29 °F). Summer temperatures (June, July and August) average around the freezing point (0 °C (32 °F).
- The highest temperature yet recorded at the North Pole is 5 °C (41 °F).
- The sea depth at the North Pole has been measured at 4,261 m (13,980 ft).
- The sea ice at the North Pole is typically around 2 to 3 m (6 ft 7 in to 9 ft 10 in) thick, though there is quite an amount of variation and occasionally the movement of floes exposes clear water completely.
- Research has shown that the sea ice thickness is decreasing, possibly due to Global Warming.
- The nearest land is usually said to be Kaffeklubben Island, off the northern coast of Greenland about 700 km (430 miles) away.
- The nearest permanently inhabited place is Alert in the Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada, which is located 817 kilometres (508 miles) from the Pole.
- At the North Pole, the sun is continuously above the horizon during the summer and continuously below the horizon during the winter. At northern midsummer the North Pole is facing towards the sun to its maximum. As the year progresses and the Earth moves around the sun, the North Pole gradually turns away from the sun until at midwinter it is facing away from the Sun to its maximum.
- There is no permanent human presence at the North Pole.
- Under International Law, no country currently owns the North Pole or the region of the Arctic Ocean surrounding it.
- It is widely known that although no ‘normal’ human beings live at The North Pole, ‘magical’ people do! The North Pole is home to Santa and his wife, and all of his elf helpers!
Click here to see The North Pole Webcam!
Map of The North Pole
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[...] The Earth’s magnetic field is slightly tilted, so compasses do not swing exactly toward the North Pole, but to a point a little little way off from Northern Canada. This direction is known as magnetic [...]
nice facts very interesting!
Great post and interesting facts!