Arctic

The Arctic is the northernmost region of the world, centered on the North Pole. It comprises the Arctic Ocean, sea ice, and the northern parts of Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and the United States (Alaska). The conventional boundary is the Arctic Circle, though some scientists use the tree line or summer isotherm as an alternative boundary.

The Arctic environment experiences extreme seasonal light variation: continuous daylight in summer and continuous darkness in winter. Most of the land is tundra and permafrost—soil that remains frozen year-round. The region supports various animal species, including polar bears, walruses, and caribou.

Peoples

The Arctic is home to peoples who have inhabited it for thousands of years, including the Inuit of Greenland, Canada, and Alaska, the Sámi of northern Scandinavia, and various Siberian peoples. Their economies have traditionally depended on hunting, fishing, and herding. Today they combine traditional practices with modern economic and social forms, and their interests are represented in international bodies.

Climate change

The Arctic is warming faster than the rest of the world, a phenomenon known as Arctic amplification. The primary cause is that ice and snow reflect sunlight, while the darker ocean beneath absorbs more heat. This results in ongoing decline in summer sea ice extent, melting of the Greenland ice sheet, and destabilization of permafrost.

Economy and politics

The region contains reserves of oil, gas, and minerals, and retreating ice has opened new sea routes that shorten shipping distances between Europe and Asia. This has increased interest from states and corporations. The Arctic Council, which includes three regional states and representatives of indigenous peoples, is the main forum for cooperation, though it lacks binding legal authority.