Antarctica is most commonly accessed from the tip of South America: most often from Ushuaia, Argentina, for traditional cruises and Punta Arenas for air-cruise itineraries that fly over the Drake Passage.
The Arctic is home to polar bears; the Antarctic is home to penguins. Except for animated movies and zoos, you will never see them together in the wild. Other wildlife unique to the Arctic besides the polar bear are the walrus, musk ox, reindeer, arctic fox, beluga whale and narwhal, as well as a greater diversity of shorebirds. Learn more in our Arctic wildlife blog. Unique to Antarctica beyond the many species of penguin are the leopard seal and albatross.
You can spot whales in both polar regions. While the Arctic sees tundra and flowering plants, in Antarctica there is almost no vegetation save for lichens. The Antarctic has been historically deserted, though several impermanent research stations house scientists. The Arctic has a strong human presence with enduring settlements, while the Antarctic has been historically deserted.
While the vessels sailing in the polar regions are often the same expedition ships, like the Expedition , Plancius , National Geographic Explorer and so on, the Arctic does offer a few small sailing vessel options that simply cannot sail the long ocean crossings of the Antarctic.
The guest Rembrandt van Rijn and the guest Noorderlicht are two such intimate sailing vessels our travelers sail on. These ships are particularly popular for late-season Northern Lights itineraries. While most Antarctic itineraries have you setting foot on the Antarctic Continent, only a few reach the Antarctic Circle and none go to the South Pole.
On the other hand, most Arctic expeditions reach the Arctic Circle and a few even reach as far as the North Pole. Part of what makes travelers excited for their cruise are all the adventure activities that get them even closer to the region they are exploring.
Antarctica cruises and unique activities have long gone hand in hand. Every year we are seeing more and more Arctic vessels offering breathtaking and adrenaline-pumping activities.
Arctic cruises and Iceland cruises on the other hand have taken a much slower approach to offering activities outside of the usual hiking and Zodiac rides. And depending on the exact Arctic itinerary some cruises have activity restraints due to polar bear safety.
Temperatures at the North Pole can vary quite significantly , with the thermometers dropping particularly low in February. It was also on the frozen continent that the lowest natural temperature on Earth was recorded: They are normally irregular, torn and jagged in shape, and relatively modest in size.
The largest icebergs in the world are found in the South Pole. Veritable mountains of frozen freshwater, they are an almost unbelievable sight to behold. Amidst these two immense, frozen and barren landscapes, you quite simply get the sensation of being a tiny molecule standing remote and isolated from the real world.
From the North to the South, a fantastical, dreamlike escape awaits you! The Arctic vs Antarctica: 5 differences between these two frozen lands. Get inspired. Reading time : 3 min. On solid land or out on the sea? Antarctic sea ice extent is currently below the long-term average of all decades prior since Previously, Antarctic sea ice extent had been above that long-term average due to long-term, large-scale wind circulation patterns that drove sea ice away from Antarctica 5 , making room for more sea ice to form nearer to the continent.
Values since then have been hovering around the average of all years prior in the satellite record. A figure showing current Antarctic sea ice extent can be found here.
Some of the questions we receive ask why we should care about the polar regions. These regions are very important in regulating global temperature. Because sea ice has a bright surface, percent of incoming energy is reflected back into space. As sea ice melts in the summer, it exposes the dark ocean surface.
0コメント