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Introduction

The Arctic

S tand at the North Pole and you stand on a frozen sea over a deep ocean. There is no land in sight. In fact, the nearest land is 400 miles (650 km) away in north Greenland. You are standing at the center of a large and almost completely enclosed ocean and you are exactly 90° North (see the box for an explanation of this measurement). Whichever direction you look is south and within a few minutes you can walk around the world.

Arctic Boundaries Scientists argue about what is the best Arctic boundary. Some use the Arctic Circle. A more useful boundary is the northern limit of the tree line. Beyond this line it is too cold for trees to grow. The tree line is an obvious frontier and an important one for animals. Beyond the tree line is the tundra where there is no shelter in winter. But the tree line means nothing at sea. Here an important boundary is made by the sea ice. In winter the ice spreads far into the Atlantic and Bering Sea. A line can be drawn on maps showing the furthest south that ice will spread in winter.

Beneath your feet is ice which is always moving. If you stand still, you will gradually be swept along by the ocean currents . You may also get very wet because sea ice is unpredictable. Many explorers have been terrified by seeing the ice breaking up around their camp, exposing them to the cold Arctic Ocean. H usky dogs have been used by Inuit for hundreds of years for traveling in the Arctic. Not only are they good friends, but they will also pull a heavy sled for great distances.

T he Arctic has several boundaries. It includes a large ocean that is almost enclosed by North America, Russia, and Europe.

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