Arctic
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The
red line indicates the 10°C isotherm in July, commonly
used to define the Arctic region border |
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The Arctic is the area around the Earth's North Pole.
The Arctic includes parts of Russia, Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Lapland
and Svalbard as well as the Arctic Ocean. The 10°C (50°F) July
isotherm is commonly used to define the border of the Arctic region.
The Arctic is also known as the Land of the
Midnight Sun as it is within the Arctic Circle.
The name Arctic comes from the ancient Greek
word, meaning 'bear', and is a reference to the constellations of the
Great Bear and Little Bear, which are located near the North Star (which
is actually part of the Little Bear).
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Antarctica
Antarctica is a continent surrounding the Earth's South
Pole. It is the coldest place on earth and is almost entirely covered
by ice.
Antarctica is the fifth largest continent
in area, after Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. However,
it is the smallest in population. It is also the continent with the highest
average altitude, and the lowest average humidity of any continent on
Earth, as well as the lowest average temperature.
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Territorial Claims
Several nations, particularly those close
to the continent, made territorial claims in the 20th century. These claims
have little practical relevance but continue to be observed by cartographers.
Most countries that have observation or study
facilities in Antarctica have those facilities within their claimed territory.
The Antarctic Treaty defers these claims and most other nations do not
recognize them. No other nations have made claims themselves, although
the United States and Russia assert the right to do so.
Argentina: 25°W to 74°W; overlaps
Chilean and British claims; claimed 1943 as part of the Tierra del Fuego
- Antarctica & South Atlantic Isles province
Australia: 160°E to 142°E and 136°E to 45°E; claimed 1933
as the Australian Antarctic Territory Brazil: 28°W to 53°W; overlaps
Argentine, British and Chilean claims; Zone of Interest designated 1986
Chile: 53°W to 90°W; Overlaps Argentine and British Claims; claimed
1940, see Chilean Antarctic Territory France: 142°E to 136°E;
claimed 1924 as part of the French Southern Territories. It is called
Terre Adélie New Zealand: 150°W to 160°E; claimed 1923,
see Ross Dependency Norway: 45°E to 20°E; claimed 1938 as Dronning
Maud Land, and including Peter I Island United Kingdom: 20°W to 80°W;
overlaps Argentine and Chilean claims; claimed 1908, see British Antarctic
Territory and the lists of its Administrators, Commissioners, and High
Commissioners.
No formal claims have been made in the sector
between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees west.
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