The poles of planet Earth, also called polar regions, are the coldest areas in the world. Therefore, they are sparsely populated. During most of the year, temperatures at the poles are below 0°C, favoring the formation of landscapes different from those we know.
This portion of the planet occupies an area of 35 million km2. In the extreme north of the planet we have the arctic polar region or simply: Arctic, which occupies an area of 21 million km2, consisting of the Arctic Glacial Ocean. It is geographically located between the Arctic Circle and the North Pole. The area where the North Pole is located is constituted by a thick layer of ice of approximately 2 km, resulting from the low temperatures that prevail in the place.
In the extreme south of the planet, is the Antarctic polar region, which is considered a continent called Antarctica, which occupies an area of 14,108,000 km2 located in the southern hemisphere. Like the North Pole, this territorial extension is also formed by ice.
Both the North and the South poles have the same characteristics, such as: temperature, which does not exceed 10°C in longer periods hottest of the year and for presenting the phenomenon called “midnight sun”, which happens when the sun shines 24 hours without cease. Another common aspect in these two regions is that they regulate the planet's temperature, hence the concern to preserve the polar ice caps.
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By Eduardo de Freitas
Graduated in Geography
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
FREITAS, Eduardo de. "The poles of planet Earth"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/geografia/os-polos-planeta-terra.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
