* The Arctic is an ocean under an ice shell, surrounded on all sides by land

* Antarctica is a continent surrounded by water on all sides

* People have lived in the Arctic for the past four centuries

* Antarctica has never been inhabited, and the first people reached its shores only 200 years ago

* The fauna of these regions is different, Antarctica is the leader in the number of inhabitants, and the Arctic in their species diversity

* The Arctic is an abundance of polar birds, walruses, musk oxen and polar bears

* Antarctica, these are giant colonies of penguins, fur seals, as well as many sea birds

* In the polar regions of the earth, the traveler will always meet an abundance of snow of various shades and icebergs of the most bizarre shapes.

* Journey to the Arctic is possible to make in the period from June to September

* Months for cruises to Antarctica: October - March.

The Arctic and Antarctic, the two poles North and South, unknown, lost at the end of the world and invariably attracting the interest of all mankind. Numerous large and small heroic expeditions were equipped for the knowledge of the secrets of the universe, individual daredevils went to this, trying to conquer and unravel the mysterious corners of the planet Earth. And in our time, years after the first expeditions, already open to the world and science, the Arctic and Antarctic, these realms of dazzling snow and light, millennial ice and icebergs, silence, cold, and unsolved mysteries, continue to attract not only researchers, scientists but also numerous tourists from all over the world. The modern possibilities of the tourism infrastructure allow everyone to choose the direction within the cruise: the Arctic or the Antarctic, the route, duration, dates and go on an exciting journey.

The polar regions of our planet are one of the last corners of the wild nature, not affected by human activities, and therefore they can be considered the cleanest. These ecosystems have unique features and interactions and therefore require special protection measures. The natural and climatic environment of the polar regions is one of the most exceptional, little known and harsh on planet Earth, characterized by extreme temperatures, a large amount of snow cover, ice and icebergs, as well as permafrost, and yet the Arctic and Antarctic are rich in living and non-living natural resources. .

With a significant similarity between the Arctic and Antarctic, there are fundamental differences between them: political, geographical and natural. And, probably, the basis of the differences can be seen primarily in the fact that Antarctica is a continent, and the Arctic is a partially frozen ocean, the ice cover of which is formed by glaciers, sea ice and icebergs. Sea ice covers the surface of the Arctic Ocean for 8 to 15 million square kilometers, with an average thickness of about three meters.

The sixth continent on our planet - Antarctica, is surrounded by ocean. With its outlines, Antarctica slightly resembles the Arctic Ocean. Antarctica is very different from all other continents. It is the coldest, windiest, driest, highest continent on the planet. The surface of Antarctica is 99 percent covered by an ice sheet that rises on average 2,500 meters above sea level. The total amount of ice in Antarctica is 91 percent of the world's ice reserves. If all the ice in Antarctica melted, the global sea level would rise by 60 meters. For comparison, the largest ice mass in the Arctic is the Greenland Ice Sheet, and if all the Greenland ice melts, the global sea level will rise by 7 meters.

Antarctica is similar to all other continents with a complex relief - mountain structures, plains and deep depressions, but this could be seen if all the ice cover was removed from this continent.

An important difference between Antarctica and other continents is the complete absence of state borders and permanent population. This continent does not belong to any state, no one lives there permanently. Antarctica is a continent of peace and cooperation.

Antarctica has no permanent land vertebrates, but large populations of seabirds and seals visit Antarctica for breeding purposes and spend most of their time in the ocean surrounding Antarctica. In the summer, toothed and smooth whales can be found in the waters of Antarctica. The lands and ices of the sixth continent are home to 45 species of nesting birds, but 85 percent of all Antarctic seabird biomass are penguins.

There is no indigenous population in Antarctica, however, the number of scientists temporarily residing here, employees of year-round research stations is constantly growing, as is the number of tourists.

The northern polar region of our land, including the Arctic Ocean and its seas, as well as the Canadian archipelago, with its numerous bays and straits, the Northern parts of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, Greenland, Svalbard, Franz Josef Lands, Novaya and Severnaya lands, New Siberian Islands and islands Wrangel, as well as the northern coasts of the continents of Eurasia and North America form the Arctic.

There are no trees in most Arctic regions, but pine, spruce and birch forests grow in some areas. Typical tundra vegetation consists of sedges, lichens and dwarf trees.

The fauna of the Arctic has its own characteristics - the limited species composition and the abundance of individuals of each species. Representatives of the animal world of the Arctic region are reindeer, musk oxen, polar bears, polar wolves, hares, arctic foxes, lemmings and others. The polar seas abound with belugas, narwhals, seals and walruses.

In many areas of the Arctic, people appeared more than 10 thousand years ago. The northern regions of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and Greenland were the last to be settled.

The population of the Arctic consists of indigenous and newcomers who are carriers of different cultural traditions. The most homogeneous group of aborigines living in the American Arctic. It mainly consists of Eskimos, or Innuit (as they call themselves in Canada and Greenland).

In northern Alaska, the Eskimo population predominates, but many visitors are employed in the oil fields. In the extreme north of Eurasia, the indigenous population includes the Saami in northern Scandinavia and Finland, the Nenets in the north, and the Chukchi in northeastern Russia. The traditional occupations of the peoples of the North are hunting, fishing, and reindeer herding.

The Arctic and Antarctic, mysterious lands crowned with glaciers, dazzlingly shining in the rays of the sun, seas covered with ice or floating icebergs, have long attracted travelers. Nowadays, there is an opportunity, within the framework of the chosen Antarctic or Arctic cruise, to join the secrets of the universe, listen to the silence, feel the magnetism and energy of these unrealistically beautiful landscapes of places. Companions in your travels will be polar birds, and depending on the chosen direction, numerous colonies of penguins, or polar bears appearing on ice floes.

The Arctic and Antarctic are two regions similar in natural conditions, but opposite in location on the globe. Often the Arctic is confused with the Antarctic and vice versa, and Antarctica is called Antarctica. But this is not true: the differences between them are hidden not only in the names, but also in geographical and climatic features.

The Arctic is the geographical area between the North Pole and the Arctic Circle. It is characterized by ice cover and permafrost. Arktikos means "bear" in Greek. Antarctica is the geographic region of the southernmost part of the globe.

It consists of:

  • the continent of Antarctica;
  • southern waters of adjacent oceans with islands.

The name appeared in the 19th century and came from the opposition to the Arctic. The combination of "anti" and "arctic" translates as located "opposite the Arctic".

Antarctica and Antarctica on earth map. They are at different poles.

Antarctica is the sixth continent, 97% of which is covered with ice. On its territory is the South Pole. On all sides, Antarctica is surrounded by the waters of the Southern Ocean and is isolated from the rest of the continents of the Earth.

General characteristics of Antarctica

Antarctica is a polar region in the southern part of the globe. Its territory includes Antarctica, nearby islands and the southern seas of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans. The total area is 52.5 million square meters. km. The water boundary of Antarctica runs along the edge of floating ice within 50°–60° S. sh.

Antarctica and Antarctica, the differences between which are very significant, are:

  1. Antarctic- a vast area, and Antarctica - the mainland.
  2. Antarctic- this is the mainland and the ocean area, and Antarctica is only land.

Climate

The region is dominated by the Antarctic climate, which was formed under the influence of a two-kilometer-thick ice shell. The absolute pole of cold (the eastern part of Antarctica) is located in Antarctica.

The Antarctic climate is characterized by:

  • dry and cold continental air masses;
  • infrequent precipitation in the form of snow (rain is an extremely rare occurrence in the region);
  • low winter temperatures (-50 °С - -60 °С);
  • negative summer temperatures (-15 °С - -30 °С);
  • polar night.

Covered with an ice cap, the surface of Antarctica absorbs 10% of sunlight. 90% of it is reflected and goes into the atmosphere. Air masses form over the central part of the continent and move towards the coast.

This is how cold katabatic winds are formed, the average speed of which is 50-60 m/s. The compressed snow forms an ice sheet, the thickness of which in some cases reaches 4300 m.

Hydrology

The seas of Antarctica are often combined into the Southern Ocean. It consists of 13 marginal seas named after explorers and sailors. The largest of them: the Lazarev, Bellingshausen, Ross, Amundsen, Weddell seas.

Marine waters of the Antarctic are characterized by transparency, high oxygen content and low salinity. A large number of ice floes and icebergs of continental origin are constantly drifting on the sea surface. They result from debris from continental or ice shelves.

There are lakes and subglacial waters on the Antarctic mainland. There are no rivers or groundwater. The main source of fresh water is the ice cap. In summer, moisture evaporates, and in winter, condensation occurs.

The main difference is in the composition of water resources: in Antarctica, only fresh water is found (mainly in the form of ice), in Antarctica, the amount of sea water prevails over the volume of fresh water.

Flora and fauna

Life in Antarctica exists in three regions.

  • ocean waters;
  • sea ​​coast;
  • islands.

The vegetation of the Antarctic is represented by mosses, lichens, blue-green algae, and primitive species of fungi. The animal population of the southern continent is not numerous. Small invertebrates, worms, crustaceans, insects live here.

Skuas, albatrosses, terns, petrels, and penguins nest on the coast. There are 17 species of penguins in Antarctica, among which the emperor is the largest species.

The wealth of Antarctica is marine fish and Arctic krill. There are cetaceans in the ocean. The abundance of food attracts toothed whales, fin whales, and sperm whales here. There are also pinnipeds: Kerguelen seals, sea lions and elephants, seals. The islands are inhabited by colonies of birds.

Antarctica and Antarctica, whose differences lie in the spread of life, are expressed in the richness of the animal world in the ocean, are limitedly representative of living organisms on land.

Natural resources of Antarctica

In the east of Antarctica, deposits of iron ore, rare earth and valuable metals, and coal have been discovered. Mineral extraction activities on the continent are prohibited by the 1959 Treaty. Marine fishing is limited in Antarctic waters. The ice of Antarctica is a valuable natural resource. They contain 90% of the world's fresh water.

Antarctic research

Low atmospheric pressure, abnormal frosts, ice cover made Antarctica impregnable. The first attempts to see the southern mainland were made by J. Cook.

Only in 1820 was the Russian expedition of F. Bellingshausen and M. Lazarev able to reach the coast of Antarctica. They proved the existence of the sixth continent, described its climatic characteristics, the outlines of the coastline, the natural world.

In 1840, J. Dumont-Durville landed for the first time on the icy land of Antarctica. The South Pole was conquered by brave Norwegian explorers only in 1911, when R. Amudsen set up a flagpole at the southernmost point of the globe. Since 1955 year-round scientific observations have been conducted on the mainland.

Antarctica

Antarctica is a polar continent in the south of the Earth. It ranks fifth in size, second only to Australia. In the center of the territory of Antarctica with an area of ​​​​13.2 million square meters. km is the South Pole. Antarctica is the highest continent (2360 m) of the planet with a diverse topography.

The main part of the mainland is covered with solid ice. The level of the World Ocean depends on the state of the glaciers of Antarctica. Warming and melting of the ice sheet can cause flooding of certain coastal regions of the Earth.

Natural records of Antarctica:

  • 14 million sq. km is the area of ​​the glacier;
  • 4776 m - the thickness of the ice sheet;
  • 525 thousand sq. km is the area of ​​the ice shelf;
  • 2555 m (below sea level) - subglacial depression;
  • -91.2 °С – air temperature.

The territory of Antarctica is not anyone's state property. It is divided between countries into separate sectors, where scientific stations operate year-round.

There is no permanent population: scientists, researchers, doctors and station personnel temporarily live here.

Since 2002, Antarctica has had an unofficial flag: the outline of a white mainland on a blue background. The flag was presented at the conclusion of the Antarctic Treaty.

Antarctica and Antarctica, which differ primarily in the fact that it is a geographical area and a mainland, also differ in the following:

  1. The geographical concept of Antarctica is wider than Antarctica.
  2. Antarctica is colder than Antarctica as a whole.
  3. Industrial activity on the mainland is completely prohibited, although marine fishing is allowed in Antarctic waters.

General characteristics of the Arctic

The Arctic is a geographical area in the northern part of the planet with an area of ​​30 million square meters. km. The heart of the Arctic is the North Pole, located in the center of the ice-covered ocean. The main part of the territory of the Arctic is occupied by the Arctic Ocean, neighboring islands and water basins of the marginal seas.

The relief of the water part of the region is heterogeneous, depressions alternate with shelves. The mainland coasts of the United States and Canada are dominated by plains. More than 30 northern peoples live in the Arctic lands. The main occupation of the local population is reindeer herding and fishing.

Climatic features

The Arctic is characterized by a harsh polar climate.

It differs:

  • low temperatures;
  • solid precipitation;
  • lack of sunlight;
  • low radiation balance;
  • the existence of permafrost;
  • the presence of underground ice;
  • ice content in the sea.

A feature of the Arctic is the polar night, which lasts 6 months, and the same long polar day. Winter is characterized by sudden changes in weather, hurricanes, precipitation. The air temperature is kept at an average mark of -22 ° C. The record low temperature is -40 °C. Most of the ocean is covered with a layer of ice, and the continental areas are covered with permanent snow cover.

Regular northern winds lift the fallen snow, which creates the effect of unceasing snowfall. The fleeting spring is distinguished by the appearance of sunlight, the melting and movement of ice, and the rise in temperature above zero. It rains during this time. Summer lasts 7 - 10 days, and in the southern regions - up to 20 days. In summer, the air temperature warms up to +10 °C.

Modern scientific studies note a warming trend in the Arctic climate associated with the movement of air masses and a change in the speed of the planet's rotation.

Hydrology

The ocean area of ​​the Arctic is covered with a shell of pack (sea) ice. Its average thickness is 4.5 - 7.5 m. The water temperature is kept near zero.

Icebergs that have formed off the Canadian and Greenland coasts drift in the northern seas. 90% hidden under water, they move by the force of undercurrents. There are also stamuhi - icebergs that have run aground. The waters are characterized by moderate salinity (30%).

Flora and fauna

Life exists in the adverse conditions of the cold Arctic climate. Mosses, scale lichens, polar willow, dwarf birch, cranberries and blueberries grow in the polar tundra zone. The sparse vegetation is the main food for reindeer and musk oxen.

Polar bears, wolves, arctic foxes feel comfortable on the snowy icy lands of the Arctic. The fauna of the northern seas is much richer. Marine mammals live here: walruses, bearded seals, seals, seals. There are representatives of cetaceans: killer whales, beluga whales, whales, narwhals. In summer, the mainland coast is a favorite nesting place for numerous birds.

Natural resources

The Arctic region contains valuable energy resources: oil and natural gas. The US Geological Survey estimated the volume of oil deposits at 90 billion barrels. This amount of energy resources can meet the needs of the world's population for 145 years ahead.

But extracting minerals and other resources in the Arctic is costly, difficult, and environmentally hazardous. The main problem is the elimination of an oil spill in the event of a collision with a drifting iceberg or an accident at a drifting production station.

Russia is the main producer of natural resources in the Arctic. The developed deposits are concentrated in the Yamal-Nenets region (56% of the total gas production in the country), Norilsk (copper-nickel ores), Yakutsk (precious metals), Pechora (oil).

In the future, the production of manganese in Novaya Zemlya, gas in the Kara Sea and oil in the Barents Sea.

The United States and Canada have imposed a ban on underwater drilling of oil wells. The decree applies to work in the Beaufort Sea, the Chukchi Sea, and Alaska.

Expeditions to the Arctic

The beginning of the development of the Arctic lands dates back to the 16th century. Russian navigators mastered the waterway along the coastline of the Arctic to the Pacific Ocean. V. Barents discovered the island of Svalbard, and the English explorer G. Hudson reached the outskirts of Greenland.

Since the 17th century, explorers have sought to find the North Pole. Two centuries later, W. Parry, D. Ross, D. Nares made expeditions to the northernmost point of the Earth, but to no avail. At the end of the 19th century, the expedition of F. Nansen failed.

In the 18th century, the expeditions of V. Bering explored the northern outskirts of Siberia, compiling maps of the ocean coast. At the beginning of the 19th century, F. Litke described the shores of Novaya Zemlya and the White Sea. In 1899, on the idea of ​​S. Makarov, the Ermak icebreaker was launched in England, designed specifically for sailing in the Arctic seas.

To no avail, F. Cook and R. Pari contested the primacy in the discovery of the North Pole. Since 1929, drifting polar stations have been constantly operating here, making it possible to continuously conduct scientific research.

Differences between the Arctic, Antarctica and Antarctica

The Arctic and Antarctic have common features:

  • prolonged severe frosts;
  • change from polar night to polar day;
  • occurrence of polar lights.

Antarctica and Antarctica, the differences of which are presented in the table, are located in the southern hemisphere.

Comparable characteristic of the object Arctic Antarctic Antarctica
Location North South South
The foundation Ocean surrounded by land Continent surrounded by ocean Land
Area 27 million sq. km 52.5 million sq. km 14.1 million sq. km
coastline length 45359 km 30000 km
oceans Washed by different oceans
Average annual temperature -34°C -49°C
Climate type arctic Antarctic Antarctic
Ice cover 14.52 million sq. km

Ice forms cracks

 18.83 million km° Ice does not form cracks
Ice composition Sea water Sea and fresh water Fresh water

(ice from precipitation)
Unique representatives of the animal world Polar bear Penguin
Vegetable world tundra vegetation Seaweed lack of vegetation
Population 4 million people Has no permanent population
Statehood 5 states Does not belong to any state
Industry Extraction of natural resources Sea fishing in the ocean Prohibition on all types of work
Whaling
fishing

It is colder in Antarctica because water and land heat up and cool down differently. The Arctic is an ocean where the water is warmer than the frozen land in Antarctica. In summer, ocean water gives off heat through the ice sheet, thereby warming the Arctic air.

Temperatures are lower in Antarctica because:

  • it is a frozen land with an ice cap;
  • this is a high mainland (and the higher - the colder);
  • strong cold winds blow from the center of the continent;
  • glaciers slide into sea water;
  • The continent is washed by powerful cold currents.

As a result, Antarctica protects the globe from overheating and contributes to the creation of a temperate climate in other regions.

While the Arctic, Antarctic and Antarctica are similar in climate and physical phenomena characteristic of the polar regions, there are differences between them: natural, climatic, geographical and political. Today, humanity has a unique opportunity: to join the secrets of the polar regions of the Earth in the conditions of an Antarctic or Arctic cruise tour.

Article formatting: Lozinsky Oleg

Video about Antarctica and Antarctica

What is the difference between Antarctica and Antarctica:

Where is the Arctic and Antarctic located? And how do these regions of the Earth differ from each other? This question puzzles many people, even if they studied geography conscientiously in school. Our article will help answer it.

The difference between the Arctic and Antarctica

A fairly popular one is: “Do polar bears eat penguins?” The brain of an adult immediately begins to build a logical chain of thought. Pictures from school textbooks pop up in my memory, where both animals are depicted against the backdrop of eternal ice and harsh winter landscapes. A man argues like this: polar bears are predators, and penguins are rather clumsy birds, easy prey. Therefore, the former should gladly feast on the latter.

However, it's not like that at all! Not everyone will guess that these animals in the wild cannot meet at all, as they live in completely different parts of the world. One of them is the Arctic and the other is the Antarctic. Therefore, they can only see each other in some zoo.

Where the Arctic and Antarctica are located - this will be discussed further. What are the features of nature, climate and the organic world of these areas?

Where is the Arctic located? Brief description of the area

What is the difference between the Arctic, Antarctica and Antarctica? Let's try to understand this geographical issue.

Where is the Arctic located on the globe? In what part of the world should you look for it?

At the very beginning, you need to remember that our planet Earth has two poles that are diametrically opposed to each other - North and South. This will help you better navigate where the Arctic is and where the Antarctic is.

So, the Arctic is the polar region of the Earth, directly adjacent to its North Pole. Geographically, it covers the ends of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The Arctic also includes the outskirts of Eurasia and North America, as well as numerous islands.

Sometimes this physiographic macro-region is limited from the south. The area of ​​the region, depending on the location of its southern borders, ranges from 21 to 27 million square kilometers.

Now you know where the Arctic is. What was the development of it by man? And when did it start?

The history of the conquest of the Arctic and the North Pole

The Arctic has been inhabited for a long time. This is evidenced by numerous archaeological finds. So, man first appeared on the shores of the Arctic Ocean 30 thousand years ago. However, later it began to pull further north. There were also daredevils who wished to conquer the pole of the Earth.

Serious and systematic study of the area began in the second half of the 19th century. The most famous polar explorer of that time is the Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen. In particular, he went down in history by being the first to be able to cross the ice shell of Greenland, the largest island on the planet. It happened in 1889.

Robert Peary is another important name in history. In 1908-1909, he organized an expedition that reached the North Pole for the first time. Interestingly, the goal of this trip was only this record. The expedition did not conduct any scientific research.

7 Surprising Facts About the Arctic

The Arctic is an amazing region that is full of secrets, mysteries and unusual natural phenomena. Below are the most interesting facts about him:

  • The organic world of the Arctic, despite such a harsh climate, is quite rich. Huge ice spaces are densely populated by polar bears, arctic foxes, lemmings, reindeer, dozens of bird species and other animals. You can even meet an ordinary crow here!
  • Five states immediately claim their rights to the Arctic, including Russia;
  • The Arctic shelf, according to rough estimates of scientists, hides over 100 billion tons of gas and oil;
  • About 50 million years ago, the climate of the Arctic was much milder. The water in the Arctic Ocean in those days warmed up in summer to + 15 ... 18 degrees!
  • The Arctic is the region of the Earth that is most vulnerable to the worldwide processes of global warming;
  • There are deserts not only in the tropical zone, but also in the Arctic. Only here they are called arctic;
  • The very first voyage across the Arctic waters was made by the ancient Greek Pytheas back in the 4th century BC.

Antarctica and Antarctica - where are they located?

Geographers call Antarctica the southern circumpolar region of the Earth, which is located on the opposite side of the planet from the Arctic. It includes a huge landmass - the mainland Antarctica, as well as the southern extremities of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans (many foreign scientists also distinguish the fifth ocean of the Earth - the South) in this area.

The northern border of Antarctica is rather conditional. Most often it is carried out along the edge of the floating ice zone (between 50-55 degrees south latitude). Thus, the total area of ​​the Antarctic is much larger than the Arctic, and is about 60 million square kilometers.

Antarctica, as mentioned above, is the sixth continent of the planet Earth - the southernmost and coldest.

The history of the discovery and development of Antarctica

Already in the 18th century, people assumed that there was another continent in the south of our planet. James Cook was the first to search for it in 1775. During his round-the-world voyage, he came close to the mysterious "Southern Land", discovering the South Sandwich Islands.

The discovery of the mainland of Antarctica took place in 1820 during the expedition of Russian navigators F. Bellingshausen and M. P. Lazarev. After that, a series of discoveries and mapping of various seas, islands and lands in Antarctica began.

In 1911, two expeditions at once (one led by Roald Amundsen, the other by Robert Scott) set off to conquer the South Pole of the Earth. But luck smiled at only one of the groups of desperate daredevils. On December 14, 1911, Amundsen planted the Norwegian flag at the Pole. Scott's group reached the goal of the expedition 27 days later, and all of its members died on the way back.

The continent of Antarctica has a significant mineral resource potential. However, the countries of the world signed an agreement on the "inviolability" of the bowels of the continent until 2048.

7 amazing facts about Antarctica

We bring to your attention 7 interesting facts about Antarctica and Antarctica:

  • Antarctica is the coldest continent on the planet. In the 80s, the lowest temperature on Earth (-89 degrees) was recorded at the Soviet Vostok polar station;
  • Antarctica is also the highest continent on the planet (primarily due to the massive ice cap, which in some places reaches a thickness of 1-1.5 km);
  • Antarctica is the windiest and driest place on Earth (and this despite the fact that it contains up to 70% of all fresh water in the world);
  • Antarctica is the only continent without a permanent population;
  • There are 6 species of penguins in Antarctica. Among them are emperor penguins, which are distinguished by their large size;
  • Enormous blocks of ice periodically break off from the ice shelves of Antarctica. One of these was formed in 2000 and set off for free swimming. Its length reached 300 kilometers!
  • There are no time zones in Antarctica. Scientists staying here live according to the time of their states.

Museum of the Arctic and Antarctic

Do you know where many people are unaware of the existence of such an institution. It turns out that such a museum exists!

It is located in the city of St. Petersburg, in the building of the former St. Nicholas Church of the same faith (Marata street, 24a). In 1930, the temple was closed and this unusual museum was opened within its walls. It just acquaints visitors with the history of exploration and exploration of the Arctic and Antarctic.

The expositions of the museum show the equipment of polar explorers, unique instruments, rare photographs, models of ships and icebreakers, as well as numerous paintings by artists depicting the wild and harsh nature of the polar regions of the Earth.

Finally

Where is the Arctic, Antarctica and Antarctica located? Now you can easily answer this question and show the above areas on the globe. Despite the distance of thousands of kilometers between the Arctic and Antarctica, there are many similarities between them. In both parts of the planet it is extremely cold, there is a lot of snow, icebergs and ice, and there is practically no vegetation.

The Arctic and Antarctic are concepts that are often confused by schoolchildren. And older people do not see significant differences between these snow-white-ice words. But there is a difference, and it is very significant.

Arctic is the area around the North Pole. It extends from a conventional flag driven into the pole to the outskirts of the continents that border the Arctic Ocean - Eurasia and North America. The main territory of the Arctic is the ocean. But it also includes Greenland, and many archipelagos located in the ocean. Examples: Franz Josef Land or Northern Land. The name of the Arctic is associated with the sound of the word "arktos". From Greek, it translates as "bear".

The nature of the Arctic was formed under the influence of low temperatures. In January, up to -60 ° C is recorded here in the center and about - 2 ° C off the coast of the marginal seas of both continents. In summer the temperature can rise up to + 2 °C. This temperature regime has led to the fact that 80% of the territory in winter and 55% in summer are covered with an ice shell. The mass of ice affects the radiation balance of the Earth and prevents it from overheating.

On the territory of the Arctic, on the coast of the continents, the zone of arctic deserts is widespread, and on the islands - tundra. The tundra has very poor vegetation cover. Mosses, lichens, dwarf trees, sedge and polar poppy. Such poor food can satisfy only reindeer, musk oxen, caribis, partridges, ground squirrels and lemmings. The regulation of the number of the former is carried out by polar wolves. Arctic foxes, ermines and snowy owls prey on rodents and birds.

That part of the Arctic, which is covered with ice, is devoid of vegetation. The fauna is represented here by polar bears, marine mammals and numerous birds. These are grandiose gatherings of loons and long-tailed ducks, black geese and skuas. The bears live by fishing and hunting bearded seals, ringed seals, lionfish and walruses.

Under the ice, the animal world is much richer. Beluga whales and narwhals, fin whales and bottlenose whales, bowhead and gray whales patrol the water area, straining or hunting for their prey. A distinctive feature of the underwater fauna is gigantism, a small number of animal species with a large number of its representatives.

The Arctic has long been used as a place of work for whaling fleets and fishermen, as a testing ground for nuclear tests, for occasional scientific research, as a place for extracting natural gas and oil from the shelf of the Arctic Ocean.

Antarctic — this is the mainland Antarctica and the waters of the three oceans surrounding it, limited by the course of the Western winds. The center of Antarctica is the South Pole. The name appeared as a contrast to the Arctic - Anti-Arctic.

The nature of Antarctica was formed thanks to the ice sheet, which covered the mainland with a two-kilometer shell. Above it, in July, the temperature drops to -75 °С in the center and rises to + 5 °С in January. In the coldest place, at Vostok station, -89.2°C was recorded, and the warmest place is the territory of the Antarctic Peninsula. From the ice dome of the mainland, piercing cold katabatic winds break down, which cool the entire Antarctic.

In such conditions, talking about plants is not very decent. Only algae settle on the snow, coloring it pink or red. On the relatively warm Antarctic Peninsula, in addition to traditional mosses and lichens, 2 types of flowers grow - meadow grass and colobanthus.

The entire animal world of Antarctica is tied to the ocean. Elephant seals, Kerguelen seals, Ross seals and sea leopards live on the coast of the mainland and islands. Killer whales and sei whales, minke whales and humpback whales plow the waters of 3 oceans. The main fish are rhinoceros whitefish, silverfish and marbled beard. On the coast of the mainland, penguins, albatrosses, terns, cormorants and petrels occupied their ecological niches.

There is no mining in Antarctica. Scientists from a dozen countries are constantly working at the stations, between which it is divided into sectors. Testing of any type of weapon is prohibited here.

Findings site

  1. Both territories are located in diametrically opposite parts of the planet. The Arctic is in the north, the Antarctic is in the south.
  2. The basis of the Arctic is the Arctic Ocean. For Antarctica - the mainland of Antarctica with adjacent waters.
  3. Antarctica is twice the size of the Arctic.
  4. It is warmer in the Arctic, colder in the Antarctic, and besides, there is a large amplitude of annual temperatures.
  5. There is active mining in the Arctic. Antarctica has become a reserve of minerals of the planet, a treasury of man, left for later.
  6. Different representatives of flora and fauna survive in both regions.