The Arctic Circle is about 9,900 miles long and encompasses an area of about 7.7 million sq mi, representing approximately 4% of Earth's surface. The largest community of North Americans within the circle is located in Sisimiut, Greenland, which is inhabited by 5,000 people. Large communities within the Arctic Circle are located in Russia, Sweden, and Norway. Today, only 10% of the population is indigenous. However, some of these areas have been inhabited by indigenous populations for thousands of years. Only four million people live north of the Arctic Circle because of its harsh climate. The portion of Iceland within the Arctic Circle is very small, encompassing an area of less than one square mile, but is a popular tourist attraction that is visited by people from across the world, especially during the solstice. The Arctic Circle passes through seven countries including the US state of Alaska, Canada, Finland, Iceland, Greenland, Norway, Russia, and Sweden. The area north of the Arctic Circle receives more than one day of either total darkness or daylight, while the Arctic Circle receives exactly one polar day in June and one polar night in December, usually on the 21st of either month. A polar day receives 24 hours of daylight, while a polar night experiences 24 hours of darkness. It is the farthest region that experience polar days and polar nights. Although its exact position is not fixed, the Arctic Circle was located at 66☃3′47.6″ north of the Equator in April 2019.

The Arctic Circle is one of the five major latitudinal circles of Earth, and it demarcates the southernmost boundary of the Arctic and the northernmost extent of the northern temperate zone. The other major lines of latitude are the Equator, Tropic of Capricorn, Tropic of Cancer, and the Antarctic Circle, which is the Southern Hemisphere's equivalent of the Arctic Circle. In the summer, much of this ice melts, opening up waterways for ships to explore in search of wild landscapes, Arctic wildlife and adventure in wide, open spaces.The Arctic is the northern polar region of the Earth, which encompasses the Arctic Ocean and various adjacent seas, as well as portions of Canada, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States (Alaska). It also plays an important role in global ocean circulation, which helps keep our climate stable. The ice provides an important habitat for Arctic life, from the algae that grow on its underside, to the polar bears that use it as a platform for hunting seals. Connected to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, it includes many large bays and seas including the Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, Chukchi Sea, Norwegian Sea, the Denmark Strait and others.ĭuring the winter, much of the Arctic Ocean is generally covered in sea ice. Yes, the Arctic Ocean is the smallest, shallowest ocean basin on the planet, covering an area almost twice the size of Australia. The Council’s goal is to promote cooperation, coordination and interaction on matters such as development and the environment.

These eight nations have formed the Arctic Council to address issues important to the region. There are eight countries with territory in the Arctic region: Canada, The Kingdom of Denmark (including Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the USA ( Alaska). Most countries have signs to mark the location where the Arctic Circle crosses major roads or other landmarks, and taking a photo as you cross this important line of latitude is a highlight for many Arctic travellers. No one owns the Arctic Circle, although it crosses through many countries including Canada, Russia, Norway and Finland. You can find the Arctic Circle towards the top of the map, crossing the northern parts of Russia, Alaska and Canada, and including the Arctic Ocean. Where is the Arctic Circle located on a map? The Arctic Circle is a line of latitude that circles the globe at approximately 66☃3′ North of the equator. It covers roughly a sixth of the globe, and people have been travelling and exploring this area for thousands of years. It’s generally described as everything north of the Arctic Circle.

The Arctic is the polar region to the north of the planet. Let’s take a closer look at where the Arctic is, and how you can get there. But what exactly is the Arctic? It’s far more than a single country or location: it’s a vast region encompassing the northern reaches of the globe.

The Arctic brings to mind encounters with unique wildlife, fascinating history and living cultures, remote hikes across untracked tundra, and spectacular icebergs drifting against a backdrop of polar wilderness.

Artic circle