15 Fascinating Facts About the Arctic

Our planet is home to five oceans and six continents. The five oceans are the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern (Antarctic), and Arctic Oceans. The six continents are Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, Oceania, and Antarctica. While Antarctica is recognized as a continent, the Arctic is not. This is because the Arctic encompasses the Arctic Ocean and spans parts of several countries, including Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Alaska (United States), and Canada. As a result, the Arctic has diverse weather patterns and a wealth of intriguing facts. Today, we’ll explore various fascinating stories about the Arctic. How much do you know about this remarkable region?

Fascinating Facts About the Arctic

1. The Arctic is not classified as a continent. It includes the Arctic Ocean and parts of Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Alaska (United States), and Canada.
2. Antarctica is land surrounded by sea, but the Arctic is a sea surrounded by land.
3. There is no land beneath Arctic glaciers. The Arctic’s permanent ice consists of sea ice, 2–3 meters thick, floating on the 4,000-meter-deep Arctic Ocean.
4. The Arctic Ocean is the smallest ocean in the world. However, when including surrounding land, the Arctic region is as large as Russia.
5. The Arctic offers the shortest route between Europe and Asia. Historically, this route was rarely used due to the thousands of icebergs that needed to be navigated.
6. Narwhals, often called the “unicorns of the sea,” are found only in the Arctic.
7. The coldest Arctic regions can reach temperatures as low as -70°F, while the warmest months may rise to -35°F. This is warmer than Antarctica.
8. In Svalbard, Norway, part of the Arctic, the sun doesn’t set for 125 days, from mid-April to mid-August.
9. The Arctic is home to the world’s safest seed vault. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, the largest seed storage facility, is located on Spitsbergen Island, Norway.
10. Over 80% of Greenland is covered by a massive ice sheet, making it the world’s second-largest ice mass, after Antarctica.
11. In 2018, global warming exposed parts of Greenland for the first time in a millennium.
12. The Arctic is warming faster than any other region on Earth.
13. The Arctic lacks a standard time zone because all lines of longitude converge there, resulting in no time difference with places like South Korea.
14. Arctic ice contains 10% of the world’s freshwater. The ice is relatively transparent and clean, and its reflection of sunlight helps cool the surrounding environment.
15. The word “Arctic” comes from the Greek word Arktos, meaning “bear.” This refers to the constellations Ursa Minor (Little Bear) and Ursa Major (Great Bear), not polar bears.

There are many more fascinating facts about the Arctic, but I’ve focused on those that are historically verified and factual, excluding unproven claims. If I had to add one more, it would be that the Arctic hosts a unique annual event. Since 2003, an annual marathon has been held in the Arctic. While the exact track length and difficulty aren’t specified, participants must endure both extreme cold and physical exertion, making it a daunting challenge.