Where Is The North Pole?
There are two north poles: the geographic North Pole and the magnetic north pole. The Magnetic north pole keeps on changing its position so the distance between the two is not fixed. By definition the geographic North Pole is defined as the northern most point on the planet with North latitude of 90°. If someone were to go and stand at the North Pole, east and west would become meaningless. No matter what direction he/she takes, it will lead to the south! Explorers and scientists studying the North Pole often use the Universal Standard Time (UTC).
Robert Peary and Matthew Henson along with four Inuit men named Ootah, Seeglo, Egingwah, and Ooqueah are regarded as the first people to reach the North Pole. They accomplished this feat on 06 April, 1909. This, however, still remains a controversial issue. The USS Nautilus was the first submarine to travel beneath the North Pole.
Polar bears are one of those animals which are found only on the North Pole. Artic foxes, snow bunting, Northern Fulmar, Black-legged Kittiwake etc are some animals and birds which are primarily found on the North Pole.
The serenity at the North Pole may be illusionary because it is fast becoming a territorial issue. Russia, Canada, Norway, Denmark and the United States are laying claim on certain sectors on the North Pole. The International Law, however, mandates that no country holds the North Pole. In 2007, a Russian submarine planted the Russian Flag on the sea bed under the North Pole. The reason for this dispute over a cold desert could be the massive natural gas and petroleum reserves which have been speculated to be there.
Category: Geography