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Polar Regions Bibliography
Novel Destinations:Polar Regions
Did You Know?
The Arctic: The area inside the Arctic Circle, everything North of 66 degrees north latitude, is a frozen sea bordered by Canada, Alaska, Russia, Greenland and Scandinavia. The indigenous people, the Inuit (formerly called Eskimo,) living in Alaska, Russia, northern Canada and Greenland, speak Inuit-Inupiaq or Yupik. Sami and other Scandinavian languages are spoken by other Arctic dwellers. Polar bears are the most well known wildlife; seals, whales, arctic fox, musk ox, caribou and reindeer also live here. The North Pole is located in the ‘middle’ of the Arctic Ocean.
The Antarctic, Antarctica: The area inside the Antarctic Circle, everything below 66 degrees south latitude, is mostly covered by the continent of Antarctica, which is in turn, covered by ice. This is the coldest and iciest part of the world. There are no indigenous people. Parts of the continent are claimed by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom. There is an active volcano, Mt. Erebus. More than 40 year- round scientific stations are supported by various countries (including the U.S.); the Antarctic Treaty prohibits military and mineral exploitation activities. Penguins are probably the animal most often associated with the Antarctic; seals and whales also live here.
Both ends of the earth experience the “Midnight Sun” in summer and days of total darkness in their winters. Antarctic means, of course, opposite to the Arctic.
You can find out more information about the Polar Regions in our library databases: Lands and Peoples, CultureGrams, and World Book Online Reference Center to start.
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