How North Pole Expeditions Work

There are two North Poles. The one most people think of is the geographic North Pole, which is located approximately 450 miles (724 kilometers) north of Greenland, at 90 degrees north latitude.

The magnetic North Pole is based on the Earth's magnetic field and is slowly drifting across the Canadian Arctic (see Why does the North Pole move?).

Because all lines of longitude converge at the North Pole, it's not technically in any time zone (or, it's in every time zone, depending on your perspective). As a result, we generally use Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) at the North Pole. Coordinated Universal Time is used mostly in astronomy and navigation: It's similar to Greenwich Mean Time (the time kept on the Greenwich meridian, longitude zero) but scientifically more precise.

The sun sets at the North Pole in early October. The next sunrise is in early March. In between, there's a continuous twilight as the Earth moves on its axis. See What causes the seasons? for more on why the North Pole has continuous sunlight during the Northern Hemisphere's summer and continuous darkness during the winter.

As a result of all this, the North Pole is obviously cold. In the winter, when the North Pole is farthest from the sun on the Earth's axis, the average temperature is -40 degrees Fahrenheit (-40 Celsius) during December and January, but can dip into the negative 50s [sources: Why is Arctic ice melting 50 years too fast?

What kind of wildlife can survive at such temperatures? Read on to find out.

Does anything live at the North Pole? The geographic North Pole is in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, under ice that's about 10 feet (3 meters) thick [source: arctic fox.

Polar bears also hang out around the North Pole, but they spend much of their time in the water, hunting the fish that live under the ice. Arctic trekkers are most likely to encounter polar bears on their journeys because the bears are naturally curious -- and attracted by human food. Polar bears are increasingly seeking out humans, especially the Inuits who live in the area, because the melting polar ice is shortening the bears' hunting season. So, the bears have to forage for food in new areas that are often occupied by humans. As the North Pole gets warmer, polar bears and other animals are facing extinction.

Beluga and killer whales, sea otters, ringed seals and walrus also call the Arctic home. Arctic birds usually spend their winters farther south in the tundra region, but the puffin, albatross, bald eagle, peregrine falcon, ptarmigan, jaeger and snowy owl can all be found in the Arctic.

There are 400 known fish species swimming in the Arctic Sea, with the most common fish near the North Pole being the arctic cod.

People have always had the desire to explore new places. Explorers throughout history have been motivated -- at least in part -- by the promise of fame and fortune, and North Pole exploration is no exception. The first North Pole explorers were in search of the Northwest Passage, a route through the Arctic that would create easier trade -- and great wealth -- for the country that discovered it. When these explorers came back with tales of diamonds and coal near the Pole, the world started seeing the Arctic as a frozen treasure chest. In fact, a U.S. Geological Survey estimates that nearly 25 percent of the world's undiscovered oil and gas are buried in the Arctic, which is a big reason for the disputes among the countries that are vying to claim the region for themselves [source: Leapman].

There were occasional North Pole expeditions in the 18th century (in 1755, the British Parliament offered a reward to the first ship to come within a degree of the Pole), but it wasn't until the early 1900s that things really got going. In 1908, American Frederick Albert Cook was the first person to claim to have reached the North Pole. But his countryman Robert Edwin Peary, with support from Cook's traveling companions, disputed the claim, and Cook was widely discredited.

Peary (with a team of 24 men, 19 sledges and 133 sled dogs) ended up making the first undisputed visit to the North Pole, on April 6, 1909. But there's still some controversy attached to the claim, mostly because of Peary's improbable 37-day time frame. Most expeditions of the era took months -- at least -- to come close to the goal. However, in April 2005, explorer Tom Avery recreated Peary's sled expedition with the same materials and supplies; he beat Peary's time by five hours. Some still doubt that Peary actually made it to the exact geographic North Pole, but he usually gets the credit for being first.

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There continue to be many North Pole "firsts" -- it's a wonder that people aren't bumping into each other on their journeys. Here are just a few of the history-makers:

So, have we inspired you to brave the elements and make your own trek to the North Pole?

You're definitely going to want a heavy-duty coat and the best gear, but the most important part of your preparation may be making a warm fat layer on your own body. So start eating. The members of the McVitie's Penguin Relay (the first all-female group to reach the Pole, in 1997) consumed about 5,000 calories a day during their trek [source: McVitie's Penguin Polar Relay]. Whatever your method of travel -- skiing, hiking, road biking, dog sledding -- you can expect to consume a couple thousand calories a day more than that during training. The fat layer you build up will also help maintain your internal temperature -- your body has to work extra hard to do this in subzero temperatures.

While you're making a few extra trips to the buffet, you can start planning your trek. We'll begin with the gear. You'll need several layers of clothing for the same reason you need the extra fat: sweat would immediately freeze to your skin. So, thinner, loose-fitting base layers made of sweat-wicking material are your best bet. For your feet, you'll probably want to invest in some snowshoes, because the snow and ice can get pretty deep. And so you don't get lost, you'll definitely want to bring a GPS system. Natural Resources Canada has a useful prep list for participants in its Polar Continental Shelf Project [source: Natural Resources Canada].

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You also need to know when to go. The two-month window between March and May is your best bet. If you make the trip before March, don't expect a lot of sightseeing, because it will be dark the entire time -- not to mention a lot colder. But if you go much later than May, you'll encounter melting conditions. There isn't any actual land underneath the North Pole, so you probably shouldn't attempt that unless you feel like swimming in the Arctic Ocean.

Now that you have the time, you'll need a place to begin your journey. If you're coming from the Canadian side, Resolute Bay is where you'll start. From there, you'll take a four-hour ride in a small plane, after which you'll refuel and fly the rest of the way to your jumping-off place, Ward Hunt Island. (If you're starting from Russia, you'll leave from Severnaya Zemlya, Siberia.)

National Geographic describes a land-based journey from Ward Hunt Island:

Time frames for North Pole trips vary, depending on your mode of transportation. If you take a dog-sledding or skiing trip to the North Pole with Polar Adventures, for example, expect a weeklong training camp and a two- to three-week trek. (There are also three-day excursions, which basically deliver you to the Pole for skiing or sledding.) The cost for a dogsled trek can top $50,000 [source: Polar Adventures].

And don't forget, when you finally reach the Pole, you'll probably want a ride home instead of turning around to make the trek back. Many packages include a ride back to your jumping-off point.

For more information about expeditions to the North Pole, take a look at the links on the next page.