10 Interesting Facts About the Arctic
The Arctic is an extraordinary and magical region, full of majestic polar bears and other incredible sights such as northern lights. But many lesser-known facts exist about its amazingness as well.
It is thought that the term ‘Arctic’ derives from Greek word Arktos, meaning bear. This may have originally referred to constellations Ursa Major (Great Bear) and Ursa Minor (Little Bear), both containing Polaris as its North Star.
1. It is the coldest place on Earth
The Arctic may be known for its frigid temperatures, but many underestimate what lies within this northern region. Not only is it home to fascinating wildlife such as kayakers and anorak wearers – such as kayak, anorak and husky breeders – it has also given rise to some common English words like kayak, anorak and husky!
Arctic Ocean habitats often experience increased wildlife activity during winter due to bird droppings helping create cloud cover and thus reduce air surface temperatures.
Researchers use the term Arctic to refer to an area above the Arctic Circle – an imaginary line circling the world at latitude 66 degrees 33′ N – which typically features six months of continuous daylight and six months of darkness each year.
2. It is the home of the polar bear
Polar bears are iconic representatives of the Arctic region and excursions there provide nature enthusiasts with an unforgettable once-in-a-lifetime experience. However, there is much more to this part of our planet than just frozen expanses and majestic animals – with Arctic expeditions offering something new each time!
Sea ice is essential to the Arctic marine ecosystems and serves as an invaluable hunting, breeding and den-building platform for polar bears. Additionally, its depths provide planktonic nourishment which feed seals who in turn become food sources for the predatory bears.
The word Arctic comes from the Greek word Arktos, meaning Bear. This may refer to two constellations that can be seen in the Arctic sky: Ursa Major (The Great Bear) and Ursa Minor (The Little Bear). Additionally, indigenous people known as Inuit have lived here for millennia while finding ways to survive this harsh environment.
3. It is the home of the narwhal
Arctic waters are home to the legendary narwhal, commonly referred to as “the unicorn of the sea.” Although many perceive them as mythical creatures, narwhals can actually be seen on expedition cruises.
These whales resemble belugas but differ by having longer bodies without dorsal fins and an ability to dive much deeper.
Male narwhals boast long spiraled tusks reaching 9 feet (3 meters). These long tusks serve both for fighting among themselves as well as to attract females; these modified canine teeth twist anticlockwise into spiral shapes to form their spiral. Like other whales, narwhals use suction feeding methods and swallow their food whole; their diet includes squid, rockfish, Greenland halibut cod flounder and flounder (polar bears orcas and killer sharks have all been known to hunt them).
4. It is the home of the walrus
The Arctic is an intriguing region, known for its abundant wildlife. Inuit peoples, indigenous to this wintry wonderland, have deep connections to it that have seeped into Western culture: words such as kayak, anorak and igloo all originate in Inuit culture.
Walruses stand out among modern pinnipeds by reproducing at an exceptionally slow rate. Female walruses reach sexual maturity after six years, but it may take four more before they actually mate.
Sea ice is essential to the survival of walruses. It provides safe spots to rest and hide young calves from predators, but when floes disappear the herd must travel further to find another resting spot, which may result in stampedes where young calves can become easily crushed underfoot. Herds also remain susceptible to environmental changes and overexploitation.
5. It is the home of the Arctic fox
The Arctic Fox is one of the world’s most fascinating animals. It’s no secret why: with its thick coat that helps maintain an even temperature and provides insulation, as well as being able to burrow its food underground, saving energy while at the same time being an incredible hunter that can smell seal dens from miles away!
Arctic Foxes feed on lemmings, rabbits, rodents and other small animals such as lemmings. Additionally, they serve as scavengers by taking mouthfuls from kills of other animals like polar bears and wolves that they find nearby. Arctic foxes are excellent runners – covering up to 155 miles daily in one day with their round ears and short muzzle reducing surface area for heat loss, fur-lined feet preventing freezing as they walk along and breeding once every year with up to 20 dark furred pups from its mother!
6. It is the home of the polar bear
Arctic regions are home to some of the top predators, including polar bears – top marine mammal predators who roam ice floes looking for seals for food; they can also swim long distances.
These bears play an integral part in Arctic culture and mythology, with their iconic white coats and unique unicorn-horn-looking tusk. Actually, however, it serves as an incisor tooth used for marking territory and ranking males.
The Arctic is an ice-covered region comprised of sea ice, coastal wetlands, tundra, mountains and wide rivers that is home to four million people, including Inuit peoples. The Aurora Borealis can often be seen here. Bound by Russia, Canada, Greenland Norway Iceland Sweden it also features an intergovernmental forum dedicated to this region.
7. It is the home of the walrus
Walruses are among the Arctic’s most charismatic marine mammals, feeding off shellfish while entertaining expedition cruisers with their playful antics.
Walruses (male or bull walruses) use their long tusks to defend territory and maintain a harem of females (cows). Their fat bodies help them endure life in the freezing Arctic climate.
Walruses live on stable sea ice, and any changes to this environment is of major concern as it could hinder their breeding and feeding habits. As they forage for food on the seafloor, walruses disturb it to release nutrients into the water that feed other marine organisms in the Arctic ecosystem.
8. It is the home of the Arctic fox
The Arctic is home to a wide array of animals such as polar bears, walruses and Arctic foxes – not to mention oil reserves, minerals deposits and fresh water supplies that serve as natural resources.
The Arctic Fox is one of North America’s smallest wild canids and one of the world’s most adaptable animals. They can change their coat color depending on the season, camouflaging themselves against snow or ice in winter or plants and rocks in summer.
They are both hunters and scavengers, eating whatever is available to them. Lemmings are their primary prey but these little foxes will also prey upon hares, seal pups and birds as well as any carcasses left by other predators that fall to them. Their presence helps maintain an equilibrium among populations while providing valuable nutrients through their waste products and urine to the soil.
9. It is the home of the polar bear
Polar bears, the world’s largest land predator, inhabit the Arctic region. These animals have evolved perfectly for living in cold Arctic temperatures with thick fur and fat layers to keep themselves warm, as well as hunting seals by stalking areas of shifting or cracked ice where seals surface to breath air.
Arctic is also home to various indigenous peoples, such as Eskimo and Lapp (Sami) peoples who have long resided here for centuries or even millennia.
The Arctic and Antarctic are often confused, yet these regions differ significantly. The former spans eight different countries on three continents while the latter forms a single continent centered around its South Pole. Their distinct natures play a critical role in how wildlife moves between them.
10. It is the home of the narwhal
The Arctic is home to an intriguing sea creature known as a narwhal. These whale-like animals possess long spiral tusks and live in the Arctic Ocean. You may spot them swimming around both on land and sea ice. Unfortunately, their population has been steadily decreasing due to hunting for meat or their spiral tusks, as well as climate change impacts on habitat loss.
The term Arctic derives from Greek Arktos, meaning bear. However, this does not refer to polar bears – rather it likely originally meant Ursa Minor constellation that contains the North Star.
The Arctic is a cold and harsh place that has long fascinated explorers. Inuit people from this region have greatly contributed to our language, creating words like kayak, anorak and igloo that we use today. Furthermore, this region boasts rich resources including oil & gas reserves as well as iron ore, nickel, copper and zinc phosphate deposits that are rich with natural resources like oil & gas deposits as well as zinc phosphate deposits.