A thought about the North Pole will bring pictures of snow, polar bears, Eskimos, Santa Clause to your mind. The place is a tourist’s delight, ( for those who dare). It is a photographer’s paradise. There is no land beyond the North Pole apart from a heap of ice sheets floating in the sea. The term ‘North Pole’ has two separate points
1.Magnetic pole
2.The end of the world
The region remained inaccessible for years. The Arctic Ocean surrounds it. The most surprising thing is: This region experiences only one sunrise and sunset throughout the year! In July, the temperature remains around -32 degree, which is the warmest period of the year!!
Along with a polar bear, this territory is well known for the Narwals- a species of whales living in the Arctic Ocean. The exploration of this area involves the highest level of risk. It’s freezing out there. “One misstep could send you into the depths of an icy abyss “- notes a visitor. The frozen sheets of the sea are far more malleable than freshwater ice. The credit for discovering this region goes to this gentleman named Robert Peary ( April 1909). The issue became controversial as another explorer named Dr. Frederick A. Cook claimed that he had discovered the North Pole in 1908.
Being surrounded by drifting ice sheets, it is difficult to set up a permanent research centre at this spot. Russia, however, has set up a research centre. Certain discoveries have been made. For example an underwater mountain chain from the Siberian region of Russia to Ellesmere Island, Canada has been discovered. Scientists have found copper, nickel, and gold in abundance. It has now become a place of economic importance.