Of all the ways people describe the arctic, this peculiar one stands out: it doesn’t feel like it’s part of this world…
Yes, this is a land where the sun doesn’t set for at least one day of the year, and a day when the sun never rises. An ice paradise, which is home to Inuit, polar bears, seals, whales and other varieties of mammals. It is a place that showcases the mystery of creation and brings out the endless wonders of our little sphere.
Yet, there aren’t many who know fact from fiction when it comes to our northernmost region. And though they say myths die hard, we’ll start by debunking a few of them…
The Arctic Is A Country?
First of all, the Arctic is not a continent. You’re confusing it with Antarctica! And secondly, it is neither a country nor a city. The Arctic is a region that is shared by eight countries; Canada, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Russia, the United States (Alaska), Iceland and Denmark (Greenland).
Snow And Ice All The Time?
When someone says Arctic, an image of a snow-covered region pops up in our head! Well, this is only partially true, because you’d be surprised to know that the Arctic is NOT covered in ice round the year.
The region hosts warm weather for four months. In fact, during the summers, it is almost impossible to find any snow in the Arctic, and there are days when the sun is still up and shining bright at 1 AM!
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The Arctic Is Uninhabited?
Unlike popular perception, this frosty wonderland is home to about 40 lakh people! Also, the Arctic is governed by a jurisdiction formed by the same eight countries mentioned before.
So yes, you can go live with the Polar Bears… and people, of course.
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The Arctic Has Enough Natural Resources
The Arctic region has a number of challenges when it comes to economics, infrastructure and the environment. And it’s not surprising, because the Arctic is hidden under snow for most of the year making development difficult.
Do you think if it was possible to build skyscrapers in this region, the humans wouldn’t have done it already?
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There Are No Trees In The Arctic
It may not be green, of course, but several trees and plants can be found in the Arctic, including larch, fir, spruce and firewood. Though, beyond a point, also known as the treeline, these plants find it hard to survive in the harsh weather conditions. While the snow rules the land, the Arctic is not a barren region!
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Penguins Live In The Arctic
Nope, polar bears and penguins are never found together! And polar bears definitely do not eat penguins. Reason? The penguins don’t live in the Arctic, they live in Antarctica!
Actually, you might not know it, but polar bears devour seals. Yes, those cute, big eyed mammals make for a hearty meal. Chew on that!
These were just a few of the myths (and clarifications) surrounding the Arctic region. Did we miss anything?
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