Polar Regions Cruise Destination Guide

The Arctic and the Antarctic are both in the Polar Regions.

The polar regions are the icy areas around the North Pole and the South Pole. and the Arctic and Antarctic are situated in the polar regions. Whilst wildlife is fairly limited Polar bears, penguins, seals, whales, and walrus are a few of the animals that live in these very cold regions.

You will find the cold polar regions are found on the far south and north ends of the globe. During the winter the sun never rises and the during the summer the sun never sets, however the sun is not very strong. The polar regions were the last places on Earth to be explored and there is much debate over the valuable oil and mineral resources available in the polar regions today.

The southern polar region is called Antarctica and this ice-covered continent is larger than the United States and is surrounded by ice and water. Even in the summer, it rarely gets above freezing, although it is dry, cold, and very windy.

The northern polar region is called the Arctic. This huge ocean is surrounded by land. Most of the ocean is frozen, but there are areas where the Inuit people live. The Arctic fringe is tundra covered with low grass plains.

Keep in mind that although it's cold in both the Arctic and Antarctic, there are many differences. For example, the animal and sea life differ. Polar bears are found in the Arctic, while penguins are found in the Antarctic.

Expedition cruises to Antarctica are becoming more popular and there is a rise in the number of specialist cruise lines operating cruises to the region. These include Hurtigruten, Voyages of Discovery, Swan Hellenic and Celebrity Expedition. Many of these also include visits to the Galapagos.

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