A thick ice shelf, harsh winter, huge ice cowl, whales breaching throughout the ocean floor – are we describing the Arctic or Antarctica? It may very well be both!
The Arctic and the Antarctic have a lot in frequent. They are each chilly, distant areas on the finish of the Earth. Both areas have unbelievable wildlife and infinite alternatives for journey.
Whichever polar area you go to, you’re positive to stroll away with unbelievable recollections and pictures.
But there are some key variations between the Arctic and the Antarctic! Not solely are they at reverse ends of the planet, they’ve completely different animals, landscapes, temperatures, cultures, governments, and excursions.
This information dives into the specifics of every area that will help you higher perceive what your journey may appear to be.
You received’t discover polar bears or human cultures down within the Antarctic Circle, and also you received’t discover penguins or a complete continent of ice up across the North Pole.
Let’s break down the variations between Antarctica and the Arctic!
Antarctica vs Arctic Travel Guide
Our journey information compares each the Arctic and Antarctic areas of the Earth. These two areas are completely gorgeous and a favorite vacation spot for adventurous explorers.
Though the 2 polar areas have many similarities, they’re additionally very completely different. Our Antarctica / Arctic Travel Guide compares each areas throughout key classes that will help you resolve which is greatest to your journey.
We’ll additionally dive into some FAQs about Antarctica and the Arctic area.
Important Note! Before you ebook any worldwide journey, we actually advocate getting journey insurance coverage. You by no means know when issues will go unsuitable, and medical payments can add up rapidly for those who get sick or injure your self abroad.
Our private advice based mostly on our personal expertise is World Nomads.
Overview of Antarctica
Antarctica is known for penguin-spotting, whale watching, zodiac cruises, mountain ranges, huge icebergs, and wild landscapes of Antarctic sea ice.
Visitors typically discover by expedition cruise, which can go to locations just like the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, South Shetland Islands, and extra.
Here is an summary of Antarctica and its key promoting factors for these trying to ebook a visit!
Geography & Landscape
Antarctica is a continent surrounded by the Southern Ocean within the Southern Hemisphere. It covers round 14 million sq. kilometres and is the fifth-largest continent on Earth.
It can also be the coldest place on Earth! Air temperatures vary from -60°C (-76°F) in winter to round -2°C (28°F) in summer time.
Most of the continent is roofed in huge mountains and ice sheets. The continent itself is an enormous Antarctic ice sheet that may be as much as 4km thick.
Surrounding the principle landmass of Antarctica, you’ll discover large icebergs, enormous quantities of sea ice, and subantarctic islands with their very own distinctive geographies.
Antarctica has minimal vegetation and no full-time human inhabitants.
Read these enjoyable info about Antarctica that may blow your thoughts!
Wildlife
Despite its harsh atmosphere, Antarctica has a various vary of wildlife! Most animals reside within the Southern Ocean surrounding the continent, with some making momentary stops on land or ice floes. There aren’t any animals that completely reside on land in Antarctica.
Antarctica is most identified for its unbelievable penguin colonies. Emperor, gentoo, and chinstrap penguins thrive across the Antarctic Peninsula.
Common fowl species embody albatrosses, skuas, and snow petrels.
For sea-dwelling creatures, guests to Antarctica can typically spot weddell seals, leopard seals, and elephant seals lounging on sea ice round Antarctica or South Georgia.
Humpback whales, blue whales, minke whales, fin whales, and orcas additionally frequent the waters of the Southern Ocean across the continent.
Tourism
Antarctica is essentially the most distant and wild place on the earth. A visit right here is mostly very costly and time-consuming, however the journey is like nothing else you’ll ever expertise.
Most excursions to Antarctica depart from Ushuaia, Argentina, with alternate choices departing from New Zealand, Australia, or South Africa. You can solely go to between October and March, with December and January being peak journey season.
Guests have to go to Antarctica with a good tour operator. Most journeys to the Antarctic continent are expedition cruises, or some type of fly/cruise choices.
Tours are expensive, with most costing $10,000 – $15,000 USD or extra for 10-day expeditions. But the worth tag contains the highest-quality ships, gear, meals, lodging, and knowledgeable tour guides. You wouldn’t need to skimp out on a visit to the South Pole, the place the atmosphere is without doubt one of the harshest on Earth.
Read subsequent: Antarctica Trip Cost – The Ultimate Guide
Overview of the Arctic
The Arctic differs from Antarctica, primarily in that it’s a area and never a continent. It encompasses the Arctic Ocean and varied islands and landmasses which can be a part of completely different nations.
The Arctic is extra accessible than Antarctica. It has human civilization and distinctive wildlife reminiscent of polar bears and narwhals.
Here are the important thing components that make the Arctic particular!
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Geography & Landscape
While Antarctica is a continent, the Arctic is a area. It encircles the north pole on the very prime of the Northern Hemisphere, and contains elements of Canada, Alaska (USA), Greenland (Denmark), Russia, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland.
The Arctic area contains the Arctic Ocean surrounded by landmasses, islands, fjords, tundras, and Arctic sea ice. In complete, the Arctic is about 16 million sq. kilometres.
With barely hotter temperatures than Antarctica, the Arctic has extra variety in its panorama and human actions.
Coastal summer time temperatures within the Arctic vary from 0°C to 10°C (32°F–50°F). There are additionally a number of settlements of people dwelling across the Arctic Circle, together with Indigenous teams which have lived across the North Pole for hundreds of years.
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Wildlife
The Arctic has its personal number of marine life that Antarctica doesn’t, reminiscent of walruses, beluga whales, bowhead whales, and narwhals. There are killer whales and seals in each polar areas, although the Arctic is dwelling to harp seals, harbor seals, ringed seals, and extra.
The essential distinction between Antarctica and the Arctic’s wildlife is that the Arctic has an abundance of land animals. The local weather and panorama is extra conducive to life on wind up within the Arctic!
Polar Bears are essentially the most well-known Arctic animal, they usually share the snowy terrain with Arctic foxes, reindeer, snowy owls, Arctic hares, and extra.
Tourism
The Arctic is extra accessible than Antarctica when it comes to tourism.
The Arctic Region is in nearer proximity to Europe and North America, so company can discover a greater variety of excursions, flights, and cruises departing from Scandinavia, Canada, Iceland, Alaska, and extra.
There are extra versatile itineraries to the Arctic as nicely, which makes the journey extra inexpensive at round $3,000 – $10,000 USD.
Aside from cruises and touring the icy landscapes of the Arctic, excursions may have further actions like seeing the Northern Lights or going dog-sledding.
You may also embark on cultural excursions with Indigenous teams as there are thriving cultures within the space.
June to September is summer time within the Northern Hemisphere, which is one of the best time to go to the Arctic. This is when the ocean ice melts and you may see extra wildlife like polar bears and Arctic foxes.
Read our evaluation of the Quark Expeditions Greenland Arctic Cruise!
FAQs in regards to the Arctic and Antarctic Regions
Now that we’ve given a quick overview of each polar areas, let’s cowl some frequent questions that individuals might have.
Both polar areas are fascinating locations to go to, however they provide completely different experiences which may be higher suited to sure kinds of travellers.
What is the distinction between the Arctic and Antarctic areas?
Though we’ve lined this in every location’s breakdown, here’s a fast abstract!
Antarctica is a continent surrounded by the Southern Ocean. It’s situated on the South Pole and is dwelling to huge mountains, penguin colonies, whale species, and subantarctic islands. Antarctica may be very distant and costly to go to!
The Arctic is a area that features the Arctic Ocean and surrounding sea ice, islands, and continents. Its space extends into a number of completely different nations across the North Pole, and the Arctic is dwelling to polar bears and quite a few human settlements. The Arctic is barely extra accessible and inexpensive to go to than Antarctica.
So whereas the Arctic and the Antarctic are each chilly, icy, and filled with wildlife, they’re vastly completely different.
Which is colder, the Arctic or the Antarctic?
Antarctica is colder than the Arctic! Both polar areas are a few of the coldest locations to go to on Earth, however Antarctica takes the cake for the coldest temperatures.
This is especially due to geography. Antarctica is drier and extra mountainous than the Arctic, permitting warmth to flee into the air extra rapidly and not using a protecting cloud cowl.
Land additionally loses warmth extra rapidly than water. Antarctica is a continent comprised of the Antarctic ice sheet, so it cools down extra rapidly than the ocean.
The Arctic, alternatively, is usually the Arctic Ocean and its surrounding islands. The Arctic Ocean really regulates temperatures higher within the area, maintaining it somewhat hotter than Antarctica.
Winter temperatures in Antarctica can drop under −60°C (−76°F), and even within the coastal summer time months, temperatures typically stay under freezing. In distinction, Arctic winters usually vary between −20°C and −40°C (−4°F to −40°F), and summer time temperatures can climb to 0°C to 10°C (32°F to 50°F).
The coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth was 89.2°C (−128.6°F) at Vostok Station in Antarctica, far colder than any temperature recorded within the Arctic.
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Are polar bears within the Arctic or Antarctic?
Polar bears reside within the Arctic! If you’re getting your polar areas confused, you’re not the primary.
Polar bears are land-dwelling mammals that roam the Arctic Circle. They sometimes swim within the ocean to catch prey or to journey between floating ice cabinets, however they primarily reside on land.
Antarctica doesn’t have any animals that completely reside on land. You received’t discover any polar bears on the south pole!
Are penguins within the Arctic or Antarctic?
Penguins reside in Antarctica. They are nicely tailored to the freezing coastal temperatures of Antarctica, the Southern Ocean, and the encompassing islands.
Common penguin species to see in Antarctica embody emperor, chinstrap, gentoo, Adélie, macaroni, and extra.
Why do folks reside within the Arctic however not Antarctica?
There are a number of the explanation why folks reside within the Arctic however not Antarctica, and it’s largely on account of local weather and geography.
Antarctica is the coldest and most inhospitable place on Earth. There aren’t any timber, agriculture, or everlasting flowing water sources. It’s additionally extraordinarily remoted, and wasn’t even found by people till the nineteenth Century.
The Arctic higher helps human life. It’s barely hotter, has extra assets, and is accessible from the northern nations reminiscent of Greenland, Canada, Alaska, Russia, and extra.
Arctic areas have supported human life for hundreds of years, with Indigenous peoples just like the Inuit, Sámi, Nenets, and others adapting to the chilly atmosphere. Human settlements have their very own instruments and strategies for surviving across the Arctic Circle!
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Which nations govern the Arctic and Antarctica?
This is one other attention-grabbing distinction between the Arctic and Antarctica.
The Arctic is a area that belongs to a number of completely different sovereign nations. That means folks reside there simply as they do in different areas of these nations, supported by infrastructure like faculties, hospitals, and transport.
Antarctica, alternatively, is ruled by the Antarctic Treaty System. The Antarctic Treaty was created in 1959 by 12 nations that had scientists exploring the continent. The objective is to maintain Antarctica as a reserve for peaceable scientific analysis.
Permanent settlements and governance from a single nation are prohibited in Antarctica. There aren’t any cities or cities, solely momentary analysis stations the place scientists and assist employees can reside for brief durations of time.
Why is Antarctica a continent however the Arctic isn’t?
Antarctica is taken into account a continent, however the Arctic will not be, due to their elementary variations in land and construction.
Antarctica is an enormous landmass – a strong continent manufactured from rock and mountains, lined by a thick ice sheet. It meets the definition of a continent: a big, steady space of land surrounded by ocean.
The Arctic will not be a landmass. It’s largely sea ice floating on the Arctic Ocean, surrounded by landmasses like Russia, Canada, Greenland, and Norway.
Since there’s no central landmass, it doesn’t qualify as a continent. While it contains elements of different continents, the central Arctic itself is simply ocean, not a separate continental landform.
Should I go to the Arctic or Antarctica?
If you’re planning an epic getaway to both the North Pole or the South Pole, it’s essential to grasp the variations we’ve lined so you realize what to anticipate!
An Antarctic or Arctic expedition will possible be the journey of a lifetime. Here is a fast comparability of journeys to both location so you possibly can select one of the best journey for you.
We’ll point out the enjoyable experiences you possibly can have in every place, in addition to logistics for planning a visit reminiscent of value, departure location, and time of yr.
Reasons to go to Antarctica
- Visit one of the untouched wilderness areas on the planet
- Visit analysis stations and find out about local weather science
- Stand on the seventh continent—a bucket-list vacation spot
- Experience huge ice sheets, blue glaciers, and surreal icebergs
- See penguin colonies, whales, seals, and extra
- Ride Zodiac boats via iceberg-filled waters
- Try kayaking, climbing, and even polar plunges
- Disconnect fully in one of the distant locations on Earth
Logistics of visiting Antarctica
Aside from these wonderful experiences, take into account the logistics of visiting Antarctica.
Most journeys depart from South America, with different choices departing from New Zealand, Australia, or South Africa. Consider your journey to the start line for the expedition cruise!
Antarctica expedition cruises are inclined to value round $10,000 USD per particular person, with longer or extra luxurious cruises leaping as much as $20,000 USD or extra.
Also observe that you would be able to solely journey to Antarctica between November and March, as these are the summer time months for the South Pole.
Reasons to go to the Arctic
- Explore tundras, glaciers, fjords, and icebergs
- Try canine sledding, snowmobiling, ice fishing, climbing, or kayaking
- Visit distant islands like Svalbard, Greenland, and Arctic Canada
- See majestic polar bears, Arctic hares, narwhals, puffins, beluga whales, and extra
- Enjoy vibrant wildflowers and gorgeous summer time gentle
- Travel in shoulder seasons to see the Northern Lights
- Visit Indigenous communities and find out about conventional life
- Discover Viking ruins, whaling stations, and exploration historical past
Logistics of visiting the Arctic Circle
Traveling to the Arctic is extra accessible than Antarctica. The visiting window is wider, prices are decrease, and departure factors are extra different.
There is simpler entry to the Arctic by way of Norway, Iceland, Northern Greenland, Canada, Alaska, or Russia, and you may mix it with different close by land locations.
Peak season is June via August. There is 24-hour daylight above the Arctic Circle, wildlife is extra lively throughout the Arctic tundra, and the Arctic atmosphere is extra alive.
You may also go to in shoulder seasons of May or September to get one of the best views of the Northern Lights. Costs for a tour are typically round $3,000 – $10,000, which is extra inexpensive than most Antarctic cruises.
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