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The North Pole
Arctic
Whether steeped in imagination or scientific exploration, the North Pole has been a source of wonder and intrigue for centuries. Unlike the South Pole, the North Pole does not sit atop land, but instead floats on ice and shrinks and expands with the changing seasons. The North Pole is both the magnetic north pole, changing depending on conditions beneath the Earth's crust, and also the north terrestrial pole that exists as a fixed point of reference above the Earth. Regardless of its location, the Arctic Circle is its home.
Despite the harsh environment of the Arctic Circle, it is not devoid of plant life. Over 1,700 plants are home to the Arctic tundra, each with compressed growing seasons. The Arctic willow and the Arctic poppy are just two of the plants that grow in the tundra. In addition to plant life, species of lichen and fungi call the Arctic tundra home.
Arctic Poppy
Papaver radictum
Arctic poppies thrive in rocky areas, using the stones to help absorb heat and protect their roots. Their pollinators, arctic bumblebees, are one of two bees that live above the Arctic Circle. |