Expeditions to the North Pole

The North Pole has long been a place of mystery and intrigue. The pole and its surrounding waters do not belong to any one country, it has no time zone and extreme conditions have meant no humans have ever settled here – even if Father Christmas’ postal address suggests otherwise.

The Geographical North Pole, also known as the Terrestrial North Pole, is the northernmost point on the planet where the Earth’s axis intersects with its surface. It sits in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, though in reality the water is almost always covered with a thick layer of ice which is constantly drifting. The unpredictability of the drift has meant the North Pole does not feature on regular migration routes so animal life is scarce, though polar bears are occasionally spotted wandering through in search of food.

The first person to claim they had reached the North Pole was American explorer, Frederick Albert Cook in 1908. A year later, Robert Peary claimed to have done the same, however neither could provide navigational records and their claims have been the source of much debate.

The North Pole has fascinated scientists for years, but due to its very nature, it is one of the hardest places on earth to study. Because it sits on drifting ice, most research comes from drifting research stations that monitor the temperature, sea depth, currents, weather conditions and marine life.

There is no doubt that the North Pole is one of the world’s most incredible destinations and travel here is one of life’s greatest explorations.