Wildlife
Polar regions, found at the planet's northern and southern extremes, are the icy wastes of the continental ice caps and the frozen pack ice of the ocean. The only 'plants' here are specialised forms of cold-loving algae that grow on the surface of snow. Only animals that don't rely on vegetation - such as penguins, seals and polar bears - are able to live here.
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Stunning shapes
The last remnants of the ice world are carved into magical shapes by the suns warmth.
The last remnants of the ice world are carved into magical shapes by the suns warmth.
Arctic summer
As the Arctic warms up, ice breaks up and the landscape changes.
In summer the seasonal ice sheets thaw and split, and the glaciers weaken where they meet the sea. The ice caps, glaciers and central core remain permanently frozen, yet around the fringes of the polar basin the ice breaks up each year and by early August large areas of sea are dotted with pieces of ice.
Arctic plants
Plants struggle to survive in the freezing polar regions.
Plants struggle to survive in the freezing polar regions.
Bleak continent
Antarctica can be drier than the Sahara yet algae still survives.
Antarctica can be drier than the Sahara yet algae still survives.
Small comfort
Harp seal pups brave the harsh Arctic after just four days of mother's milk.
Harp seal pups brave the harsh Arctic after just four days of mother's milk.
Arctic fox
Crabeater seal
Grey seal
Leopard seal
Polar bear
Ringed seal
Walrus
Weddell seal
Wolverine
Earth's polar regions are the areas of the globe surrounding the poles also known as frigid zones. The North Pole and South Pole being the centres, these regions are dominated by the polar ice caps, resting respectively on the Arctic Ocean and the continent of Antarctica. Polar sea ice is currently diminishing as a result of global warming.
The frigid zones.
Location of the polar regions.
Northern Hemisphere permafrost (permanently frozen ground) in purple.
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Useful behaviours for this habitat
Ecozones where this habitat is found
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