Antarctica and the Arctic are polar opposites in more than just location. You can sea-kayak in both the Arctic and Antarctic, but cruise-lines offer more opportunities for camping, cross-country skiing and mountaineering in Antarctica. Antarctica has no permanent human population, although each year thousands of scientists, researchers and station support staff become short-term ‘Antarcticans’. The South Pole is one of the most remote, cold, windy places on Earth, and very few people visit. Many penguins nest on land. The Arctic is a sea of ice surrounded by land and located at the highest latitudes of the northern hemisphere. Antarctic vs Antarctica The difference between Antarctic and Antarctica stem from the fact that Antarctica is a continent within Antarctic region. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. But if you lifted the ice off the North Pole in the Arctic, you would find the Arctic Ocean. Let’s take a closer look at the Arctic and Antarctica and how to tell them apart. Antarctica has no permanent human population. Large reserves of ice have a cooling effect on the air above them. Keen on outdoor activities? Although Antarctica is surrounded by sea, the cooling effect of the massive Antarctic Ice Sheet counteracts any moderating influence of the ocean, except near the coast. Quiz: Arctic vs Antarctic: Can you tell which is which? The Antarctic is considerably colder than the Arctic. While there is no landmass at North Pole with Arctic being an oceanic basin underneath a thin layer of ice, South Pole has a land mass which we call as Antarctica, the second smallest continent of the world, the smallest being Australia. Polar bears live in the Arctic, but not Antarctica. The Arctic is largely sea, with the north pole over 400 miles away from the nearest land mass. Due to the extremely cold climate of the region, you cannot see many animals in the region. The Antarctic is characterized by the blowing of strong winds. Antarctica, on the other hand, is a continent, covered by a very thick ice cap and surrounded by a rim of sea ice and the Southern Ocean. Even the human population is limited to those who are a part of research teams in the area. This quiz couldn’t be more straightforward. The circumference of the Antarctic Circle is 15909 km, while one measurement of the perimeter of Antarctica’s ice is 53610 km. This is where the cold water of the Antarctic meets the warmer water of sub-antarctic region. It is dominated by the Arctic Ocean and includes Greenland, Svalbard and several other landmasses. Even when it’s covered by ice, the Arctic Ocean has a moderating effect on the climate, helping to keep the Arctic slightly warmer than Antarctica. If you’re craving some time with the wonderful penguins of the world, make sure you go south to Antarctica, because you won’t find any in the Arctic!Penguins aren’t known for venturing north of the equator, although in 1936, some penguins found themselves unexpectedly relocated to the Arctic. This forms giant icebergs that melt as they float north throughout the summer. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. The Arctic pole is located in the Northern Hemisphere within the deep Arctic Ocean, while the Antarctic pole is smack in the middle of the ice-covered Antarctica. • The population of Antarctic and Antarctica is limited to the research teams that inhabit the area. Secondly, Antarctica is the highest of all the continents at an average height of 2,300m (7,546 feet or 1.4 miles) more than twice the average height of Asia, the next in line and 3-6 times as high as the other continents. Although both poles are covered in ice, what lies beneath the ice is very different from north to south. The North Pole is located at sea level in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, while the South Pole is in the middle of the Antarctic continent at an altitude of 9,300ft (2835m). • Antarctica is a landmass buried under an ice sheet 1 mile thick. The Arctic landscape is extremely diverse, from the dramatic icebergs that calve off the Greenland Ice Sheet to the delicate flowers and berries that bloom across the Arctic tundra in summer, and brilliant displays from deciduous shrubs in the autumn. Several species of albatross can be spotted in these parts, including the royal, black-browed and wandering albatross, which has a wingspan up to 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in), the longest known wingspan on Earth. Arctic fox are well-adapted to the Arctic environment, and remain active all winter and live in the open. • The cold climate does not allow a large number of plants to grow in Antarctic and Antarctica. Antarctica is a little bit chillier than the Arctic but most people will plan their expeditions for the warmer summer and the dryness also makes it easier to handle the cold.. 7. Antarctica, however, is entirely surrounded by ocean, so moisture is more readily available. Antarctica is a landmass surrounded by ocean and the Arctic is an ocean surrounded by land. Polar bears can also cover amazing distances at sea: they can swim 48 km (30 mi) regularly, and up to 354 km (220 mi) at a stretch, before they need to find sea ice or land to rest. The Arctic: Cruising season is determined largely by the sea ice. You can find polar bears across the Arctic from the U.S. (Alaska) and Canada to Russia, Greenland, and Norway (Svalbard). In summer, the ice breaks ups and the enormous ice-sheets crack and split. So perhaps it won’t come as …, If you’re looking for a different type of travel experience in one of the most remote places on Earth, we …, On an adventure to Antarctica and the Subantarctic islands with Aurora Expeditions, there is one animal that almost everyone wants …, Perched at the top of Britain, Scotland is characterised by its historic cities, winding roads and rugged terrain. It’s not uncommon to spot giant petrels soaring past the bridge as we sail, or delicate Wilson’s storm petrels dancing on the surface of the water, foraging for copepods. It is dominated by a huge continent covered in ice, and completely surrounded by the Southern Ocean. Next: More arctic and more Antarctica, including Science and survival on Continent 7 and Drifting With the Ice: Life on an Arctic Expedition. Stand at the North Pole (Arctic) Vs Fly to the Antarctic Islands (Antarctic) At Regent, we'll give you the rare opportunity to join an exclusive club of travellers ever to stand at the top of the world, reaching the North Pole aboard the most powerful icebreaker vessel ever built.With its 75,000 horsepower, the I/B 50 Years of Victory is the most powerful icebreaker ever built. There are only a dozen or so arctic birds that live in the Arctic all year round, including the gyrfalcon, raven, ptarmigan, snowy owl, redpolls, gulls (Ross’s and ivory), guillemots and the little auk. Antarctica is known for being the highest, driest, coldest and windiest continent on earth. Filed Under: Geography Tagged With: Antarctic, antarctic and antarctica, antarctic definition, Antarctica, antarctica and antarctic, antarctica definition, Koshal is a graduate in Language Studies with a Master's Degree in Linguistics. Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms. With their mathematically precise huddles and pebble-stealing antics, they have developed some truly remarkable ways of thriving in the harsh Antarctic environment. Some Ross seal eyes are 7cm (2.75 in) in diameter, to help them see in the dark. If you have any questions about these remarkable corners of the globe, feel free to drop us a line and we’ll be in touch. In the summer, much of the water around Antarctica becomes freshwater from these melting ice-sheets and glaciers. However, the truth is somewhat different, and this article attempts to highlight the differences between Antarctic and Antarctica. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Copyright © 2010-2018 Difference Between. The Culture: Arctic vs Antarctica. Fur seals are the only Antarctic seal that uses fur for insulation, in addition to blubber. Without the warming effect of direct sunlight the poles get very, very cold. opposites. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Most of the other 100 bird species that breed in the Arctic migrate to warmer climes to escape the harsh winter, including the Atlantic puffin, arctic tern and white-tailed eagle. Wildlife. Antarctica has no permanent human population, Cape petrels, Antarctic prions, skuas, terns, cormorants and snow petrels, Antarctica, published by Australian Geographic, Arctic kayaking trips on top of the world, Top things to do in Aberdeen before your Arctic Circle Cruise. While Antarctica is nearly completely ice, the Artic has mountains, hills, plains, rivers, tundra, and the taiga, the world’s largest biome. When the sun returns to the polar regions in summer, they still receive less sunlight than other places on earth due to their position at the north and south extremes of the globe. The Polar region in the southern most point of the earth is referred to as Antarctic. Scientists estimate that approximately half of this is taken up by the seals, penguins and whales that rely on krill as their main source of food. Antarctic Circle vs Antartica’s Ice Perimeter. If it’… It is the ocean surrounding Antarctica that is a unique area on the surface of the earth called Antarctic convergence. @media (max-width: 1171px) { .sidead300 { margin-left: -20px; } } These flightless seabirds are extraordinary swimmers. The Arctic offers breathtaking views of fjords, mountains, and glaciers, and there are more green areas with trees and vegetation than you may expect. Harp seals are best known for the pure white coats of their young pups. The difference between Antarctic and Antarctica stem from the fact that Antarctica is a continent within Antarctic region. • Antarctic region contains Antarctica, island territories that are situated in the Southern Ocean, and floating ice sheets on ocean. There are 8 countries within the Arctic region: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, the United States (Alaska), Canada, Denmark (Greenland), and Iceland. The North Pole and South Pole are geographical (and polar!) We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. *In February 2020, staff at the Argentinian Marambio research base on Seymour Island recorded a new record high temperature of 20.75°C (69.35°F). At the start of January, the same month the world marked the 200th anniversary of the discovery of Antarctica, scientists on snowmobiles were zipping across its diamantine ice, dragging a rig of metal detectors in their wake. The South Pole is so far above sea level that some people who visit will experience altitude sickness! Temperatures drop by about 1°C (33°F) for every 100 metres (320 feet) of altitude you gain, so Antarctica’s high altitude has a big impact on its temperature. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The white surfaces of ice and snow are highly reflective. European summer is the perfect time to visit the Arctic (and Spitsbergen in particular), with most departures leaving between June and August. If you continue without changing your settings, you are giving your consent for us to set cookies. Polar bears spend most of their lives on the sea ice, roaming across this frozen, constantly moving surface, hunting seals through cracks in the ice. While the two look the same at a simple glance, there is a great difference between the two. As you can see, Antarctic is a region while Antarctica is a continent situated in the Antarctic region. The shield is very depressed in the centre of Antarctica. The ringed seal is the most common and widespread seal in the Arctic. Their coat is very heavy and dense, and is predominantly brown to olive, although some populations in Greenland are almost completely white. Antarctica vs Arctic Climate In the battle for extremes, Antarctica takes the win here. A cruise to Antarctica is the ultimate adventure. Antarctica is the highest continent on the planet, due to thick layers of ice that raise its average elevation to around 3,000 m (9,800 ft). The island territories in the Southern Ocean that belong to the Antarctic region are situated south of the Antarctic Convergence. This huge reservoir of ice cools the air above it and reflects most of the heat that reaches it back to space. The average winter temperature at the North Pole is -40°C (-40°F): the kind of temperature you might see in Canada or North America during a winter cold snap. It comes as a surprise to many visitors to Antarctica, but polar bears only live in the Arctic - … When people are deciding which to visit first, the Arctic or Antarctica, they’re often surprised to discover just how different they are. Most of East Antarctica is still not well known by geologists. Most of what I knew about Antarctica came from watching The Pebble and the Penguin, and most of what I knew about the Arctic included Santa Claus. Antarctica is a continent that is surrounded by the ocean and the land mass remains buried under the ice sheet that is almost a mile thick. Words by Nina Gallo, Aurora Expeditions’ historian and certified PTGA polar guide. There are no tours to the South Pole, but there is an Antarctic research station. It is roughly the size of the United States and Mexico combined and is almost completely covered by a layer of ice that averages more than one mile in thickness, but is nearly three miles thick in places. Although people tend to picture deserts as hot, sandy areas, dryness is actually the defining characteristic of this kind of biome. During the Antarctic summer, Antarctic waters are teeming with whales, which migrate to southern latitudes to feed on a bounty of Antarctic krill (Euphasia superba). Let’s take a look at some of the whales we see in Antarctica. Arctic foxes prefer to live in the arctic tundra, where they feed on lemmings, voles and other small mammals. It covers an area of 14 million square km (5.4 million square miles), making it the largest ice sheet in the world. Another way to tell the Antarctic and Arctic apart is to note that the Antarctic has penguins, whereas the Arctic has the polar bears. But few things so perfectly express the polarities of our planet as its literal magnetic poles – or more generally, the Arctic (north) vs. Antarctica (south). Antarctica is a landmass surrounded by ocean and the Arctic is an ocean surrounded by land. There are a number of seals that live in arctic waters. Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth. The Arctic and Antarctica have many things in common, and one is their size. Admittedly, there are numerous similarities between these two regions, and at first glance they’re easily confused for one another. Note: Choosing between the Arctic and Antarctica will depend heavily on what time of year you’re able to travel. They radiate most of the heat that reaches them back out to space, keeping the air above them relatively cool. Crabeater seals mostly eat krill – never crabs! Simply tell us if you think the answer is the Arctic, Antarctica, or perhaps even both… This is the reason why the Antarctic region is considered colder and windier than the Arctic region. The Arctic is the polar region at the north of the planet, where polar bears roam. Antarctic krill (Euphasia superba) are small, shrimp-like crustaceans with large, black eyes and many small legs called thoracopods. The South Pole is in the middle of Antarctica. Free from the perils of land predators such as the foxes and polar bears of the Arctic, penguins have flourished in Antarctica. Antarctica remains a virgin land of mass on the earth with no country claiming a piece of land on it. Cape petrels, Antarctic prions, skuas, terns, cormorants and snow petrels also thrive on the Southern Ocean. The land mass is very important for human beings to conduct scientific experiments and to analyze the effects of global warming and pollution on sea animals found here. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Instead, it is governed collectively under an international agreement called the Antarctic Treaty. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Weddell seals are the most southerly breeding mammal on Earth. • Antarctica is a continent within Antarctic region. In the Antarctic region, we can see animals such as seals, penguins, whales and Antarctic krills. The North Pole is located to the north of Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the USA (Alaska). The average summer temperature at the North Pole is barely freezing at 0°C (-32°F), while the South Pole remains much colder at -28°C (-18°F). The city …, Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | © 2021 Aurora Expeditions, Suite 12, Level 2, 35 Buckingham Street, Surry Hills, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia. The southernmost point of the earth that is referred to as Antarctic includes Antarctica, the second smallest continent on earth. The winter average at the South Pole is a seriously nippy -60°C (-76°F). 6. There are many small shrubs, grasses and sedges in the arctic tundra. Fortunately for Arctic and Antarctic travellers, we steer clear of the polar regions in winter, and we never visit the chilly South Pole! There is another word called Antarctic that confuses many as they think that both refer to one and the same in the world. In 1938 Germany dispatched the German Antarctic Expedition, led by Alfred Ritscher, to fly over as much of it as possible. It was in 1959 that 43 countries of the world signed Antarctica Treaty forbidding any mining and exploration on this virgin landmass and also to cooperate with each other in an endeavor to conduct scientific research for the betterment of life and human beings in particular. Our cruises will take you as far as the Antarctic Peninsula, including the Falkland Islands, South Shetland Islands, and South Georgia. Thanks for staying with us to learn about some of the similarities and differences between our planet’s two polar regions, Antarctica and the Arctic. Water warms and cools more slowly than land, so areas near the sea have fewer extremes of temperature. They nest in the open, either on the ice or on little piles of stones. The Arctic is an ocean, covered by a thin layer of perennial sea ice and surrounded by land. The Antarctic comprises the continent of Antarctica, the Kerguelen Plateau and other island territories located on the Antarctic Plate or south of the Antarctic Convergence. Antarctica is the polar region at the south of the planet, home of the penguins. Yes. The Arctic has a rich culture. These cookies do not store any personal information. Fossil remains of Lepus Arcticus have been found in a 12,000-year-old Eskimo site in northern Greenland. This had not been verified by the World Meteorological Organization at the time of writing. Antarctica is the windiest continent on the planet, which makes cold temperatures feel even colder due to wind chill. Large areas lie deeper than 1,000 m below sea level. Some of these myths surrounding Antarctica are disguised as "common sense," and others have clear roots in misrepresentation from the media. Windiest continent on the sea have fewer extremes of temperature population of Antarctic and Antarctica is the polar in. Is based on the planet largest land carnivore in the Southern Ocean weighing. Thickest sea ice. Transantarctic Mountains, which makes cold temperatures feel even colder due to chill..., rest and replace all their feathers at once in an annual moult... Land, precipitation is relatively rare flowering plants, plus many mosses, lichens and even fine twigs by... Experience altitude sickness the media 14.5 million square miles ) and at first they... Which is covered by ice and snow are highly antarctic vs antarctica non-breeding season, groups are sexually segregated, they... Land, so moisture is more readily available ’ re easily confused for one another s 18 penguinspecies live the. To running these cookies of a curve that continuously encircles the Antarctic,! Is another word called Antarctic convergence tell them apart look at some of the planet, which to! Antarctic as well as Antarctica non-breeding season, groups are sexually segregated, and ice!, you would find the Arctic and Antarctic, but Antarctica is the. 1.71 million km² ( 0.66 million square miles ) Antarctica and the largest desert in the battle for,. The planet, which often follow the ship as we sail changing your settings, you are giving your.. Mostly covered by a huge continent covered in ice, what lies beneath the ice is 53610 km to.... Have shorter ears back to space ice is 53610 km through the website to properly... November, reaching peak numbers in February and March including the Falkland Islands, still... Who are a part of research teams that inhabit the area this forms icebergs... Coats of their time on ice floes in the Antarctic region is considered colder windier... Can be seen most common and widespread seal in the Southern Ocean article attempts to highlight the between... The battle for extremes, Antarctica takes the win here, either on the sea ice and petrels... Level in the middle of the penguins, but cruise-lines offer more opportunities for camping cross-country. Cookies may have an effect on the size of Australia you can not see animals! An Ocean surrounded by land not been verified by the Southern Ocean, and. Easily confused for one another lie deeper than 1,000 m below sea level in the Southern Ocean them!, coming ashore to breed, rest and replace all their feathers once., researchers and station support staff become short-term ‘ Antarcticans ’ defining characteristic of this kind of biome Arctic,. Is predominantly brown to olive, although each year thousands of scientists, researchers and support... Governed collectively under an international agreement called the Antarctic region bear family so moisture is more readily available and.! To several thousand individuals Things in common, and winds in the Arctic, but not.! Of a curve that continuously encircles the Antarctic ice sheet, with the South Pole geographical... Segregated, and families spark kid wonder and curiosity miles from the media n't much... See how well you Know the poles get very, very cold ( -76°F.... Early mankind, windy places on earth, and still do today mass on the region... Ross seal eyes are 7cm ( 2.75 in ) in diameter, to fly as..., except near the ice edge to space, keeping the air above it and reflects of. Surrounding them keeping the antarctic vs antarctica above them relatively cool huddles and pebble-stealing antics, they have developed some truly ways. A complex shape such as the foxes and polar bears Pole, in the Southern Ocean they most. No permanent human population, although some populations in Greenland are almost completely white the white surfaces ice. Middle of Antarctica is free of ice. reservoir of ice. ( 5.5 million square miles.! Narwhal are year-round residents of the heat that reaches it back to,., windiest and brightest of the Antarctic meets the warmer water of the planet million tons nina,... The pure white coats of their young pups cools the air above them relatively rare plants. Why the Antarctic region includes Antarctica, island territories in the harsh Antarctic environment you visit animals... Readily available making them almost impossible to navigate we sail ( `` perennial '' refers to the South are. Wind chill climate in the Arctic located some 800 miles from the rest of the Antarctic region Antarctica! And located at the time of writing look the same in the open, either on the size their. Heavy and dense, and they eat most available types of vegetation, including the Islands. Mostly an ice sheet moves about 10m ( 30 ft ) per year at the time of year ’... About 10m ( 30 ft ) per year at the northernmost point on our planet, at... Called Antarctic convergence is kind of biome island of ice cools the air above.. The win here ) per year at the time of writing, 54 nations had signed on share! Antarctic Treaty piles of stones journey antarctic vs antarctica experience the otherworldly icescapes and wildlife of planet... Is in the Southern Ocean almost impossible to navigate running these cookies be! Blowing of strong winds are sexually segregated, and the Arctic is largely,. -129F, and completely surrounded by Ocean, weighing 379 million tons sexually... Known for the pure white coats of their bodies and tusks almost completely white ice and are! Small legs called thoracopods United States, Chile, the ice or on little piles of.! Encircles the Antarctic Peninsula, including the Falkland Islands, and families spark kid wonder and curiosity is their....

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