There are polar bears at the South Pole. Polar bears at the North Pole. Polar night and polar day

Polar bears live in the Arctic, which is the region surrounding the North Pole. They spend most of their time on arctic ice. The Arctic Circle denotes the latitude above where the Sun does not rise during winter solstice and doesn't come on time summer solstice. The sun at the North Pole rises and sets once a year, resulting in six months of constant day and six months of constant night.

Polar bears roam the ice sheets and swim in Arctic coastal waters. They have large front feet that are slightly webbed, making them excellent swimmers. Polar bears swim on sheets of ice to travel long distances; Sometimes they are found hundreds of kilometers from the coast.

Polar bears have many adaptations that make them unique to living in icy habitats. Their skin is black, which helps absorb heat, and their white fur provides camouflage. The fur is also thicker than that of other bears. Polar bears have a thick layer of fat under their fur that insulates them from the cold and also improves their buoyancy.

Polar bears have no natural predators. They usually eat seals, but will also eat dead animal carcasses if given the opportunity.

In nature, polar bears and penguins live on opposite sides from the equator: bears - in the polar regions of the northern hemisphere, penguins - in the waters of Antarctica, off the coast of New Zealand, South America.

The similarity between them is that both live in the coldest regions of the Earth.

Where and how do polar bears live?

Polar bears have settled in the northern territories of Russia, Canada, the USA, and on the coast Barents Sea, Chukotka, Wrangel Island, Greenland, on the lands of Lapland. When the weather is favorable, animals reach the North Pole.

Even the Arctic desert became their habitat - the zone arctic deserts, where in winter the temperature can drop to −60 °C, and in the warmest time of the year, in July, it rises only to +3 °C.

For most of the year, hurricane icy winds blow there, snowstorms are frequent, and in the harsh Arctic summer, with an almost constant 0 ° C, the sky is covered with gray clouds, and the land is shrouded in fog from the ocean. There is no vegetation in the Arctic deserts, with the exception of rare islands of lichen and moss. No animals except polar bear, Arctic fox, lemming on land, and in the sea - walrus and seal.

How do bears survive in the Arctic desert?

They have adapted perfectly to the merciless climate!

The polar bear, also known as the polar bear, Umka, Oshkuy, is the largest land predator on the planet. Scientists and travelers have observed animals up to 3 m in length and weighing more than 1 ton.

The layer of subcutaneous fat in a bear is up to 10 cm, and together with the internal (“interior”, as they say in the north) fat, it makes up about 40% of the body weight. With such a “hot water bottle” and at the same time a “stove” (fat is the main supplier of energy in the body), the mind is not afraid of the monstrous frost of the Arctic, its storms and winds.

The fur of a polar bear matches the fat layer. It has a special structure: white translucent fibers transmit only ultraviolet rays and do not transmit infrared radiation without allowing the animal's body to cool down. The villi resemble tubes - they are hollow inside and represent air chambers, which serves as another barrier to cold air. Fur even grows on the soles of the animal: in such “felt boots” the animal does not slip and does not freeze.


Unique thermal insulation allows the predator to live peacefully in the snow and overcome tens of kilometers of Arctic deserts and literally icy ones. arctic waters.

Where and how do penguins live?

Seven species of penguins - emperor, Adelie, chinstrap, king, golden-necked, gentoo and crested - chose even more harsh territory as their place of residence - Antarctica, polar regions Southern Hemisphere. The South Pole recorded the lowest temperature on Earth in December 2013 - −91.2 °C. On average, the temperature in Antarctica in winter is −60 °C, in summer - −30 °C.

But, of course, land birds penguins do not live in such monstrous conditions. So, crested penguin lives on Tierra del Fuego, Tasmania, and the islands of the Subantarctic. Endemic to the Snares archipelago, the Snares crested penguin lives on islands that are densely overgrown with bushes and trees. Subantarctic penguin - on the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, Kerguelen, Heard and others.

The largest and fattest birds are emperor penguins, which weigh an average of 40 kg, are distributed as far south as the South Pole, the furthest away, and live on the ice surrounding Antarctica. Only to hatch eggs they swim away to more warm places.

How do penguins stay warm in Antarctica?

Flightless birds in “black tailcoats” have adapted to live, if not in the bitter cold, like polar bears, but in constant “coolness”, when in summer the temperature often does not rise above + 5 °C, and in winter mostly -30 °C.

They have a thick layer of fat - up to 3 cm, dense waterproof feathers, between which there is a lot of air - " air chamber" But the most interesting thing is the penguin paws! They not only do not freeze, but also do not freeze to ice and snow.

Completely naked - without feathers or down - penguin paws have a temperature of only +4 °C. This physiological setting allows you to tolerate severe frost as normal. At the same time, the bird’s body temperature is 39… 40 °C. Wise nature provided penguins with a unique mechanism of blood circulation, organized according to the principle of reverse outflow.

With it, hot arterial blood on its way to the paws passes very close to the veins and gives off part of its heat to the already cold venous blood. Venous blood carries heat back to the heart, and cooled arterial blood goes to the paws, maintaining them at only +4 °C. If the penguins' paws were hot, they would have frozen very quickly, but first they froze into the ice, killing the bird.


Another mechanism of protection against cold is groups. Thus, emperor penguins gather in a dense group, heating the air inside it to +35 °C, when outside it is -20 °C. Penguins “circulate” in the group, moving from the center to the edge and back.

Vera, Vera! Medved! Get up! Medved!

In my sleep I hear a scream. I must say that I sleep well on the icebreaker. Unless, of course, there is a storm. I can't sleep at all during a storm. Someone in my dream is screaming about bears. It turns out that it was not a dream. I jump up on the bed and through the open porthole I see Yoel waving his arms.

- Vera, Madved has arrived. Everyone is filming, and you?!

Yoel Gonzalez is a musician from Cuba, he became Russified long ago and settled in St. Petersburg. And now he is traveling on the nuclear icebreaker “50 Let Pobedy” to the North Pole.

Musician Yoel Gonzalez at the geographic North Pole

I’m wondering if I’ll have time to get dressed, collect my equipment and run from the stern to the tank before the bear leaves. The icebreaker is huge - 30 meters wide, about 160 meters long. It's like a densely populated multinational house. In summer, almost all the world's languages ​​are spoken here - at this time of year, the largest nuclear icebreaker takes tourists to the top of the Earth.

In each geographical tour North Pole opens"hunt" for the first bear. Tourists and photographers stand guard on the bridge with binoculars so as not to miss their bear. The tour operator even offers to bet on what date and time the animal will be spotted.

All hunters for successful shots gather in the library - a large cabin where you can borrow or read books about the Arctic.

They drink coffee and look through what they have already filmed. They are waiting for the next bear to be announced over the loudspeaker.

Mother with cubes!

Cruise for tourists to Rudolf Island, Franz Josef Land

Ecology

The polar regions of the Earth are the harshest places on our planet.

For centuries, people have tried at the cost of life and health to reach and explore the Northern and Southern Arctic Circle.

So what have we learned about the two opposite poles of the Earth?

1. Where is the North and South Pole: 4 types of poles

There are actually 4 types of North Pole from a scientific point of view:

North magnetic pole– point on earth's surface, towards which magnetic compasses are directed

North geographic pole– located directly above the geographic axis of the Earth

North geomagnetic pole– connected to the Earth’s magnetic axis

North Pole of Inaccessibility– the northernmost point in the Arctic Ocean and the farthest from land on all sides

There were also 4 types of South Pole:

South magnetic pole- a point on the earth's surface at which the earth's magnetic field is directed upward

South geographic pole- a point located above the geographic axis of rotation of the Earth

South geomagnetic pole- connected to the Earth's magnetic axis in the southern hemisphere

South Pole of Inaccessibility- the point in Antarctica that is farthest from the coast of the Southern Ocean.

In addition there is ceremonial south pole– area designated for photography at Amundsen-Scott Station. It is located a few meters from the geographic south pole, but since the ice sheet is constantly moving, the mark shifts every year by 10 meters.

2. Geographic North and South Pole: ocean versus continent

The North Pole is essentially a frozen ocean surrounded by continents. In contrast, the South Pole is a continent surrounded by oceans.

Except Northern Arctic Ocean The Arctic region (North Pole) includes parts of Canada, Greenland, Russia, USA, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland.

The most southern point land - Antarctica is the fifth largest continent, with an area of ​​14 million square kilometers. km, 98 percent of which is covered by glaciers. She's surrounded southern part Pacific Ocean, southern part Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean.

Geographic coordinates of the North Pole: 90 degrees north latitude.

Geographic coordinates of the South Pole: 90 degrees south latitude.

All lines of longitude converge at both poles.

3. The South Pole is colder than the North Pole

The South Pole is much colder than the North Pole. The temperature in Antarctica (South Pole) is so low that in some places on this continent the snow never melts.

Average annual temperature in this area is -58 degrees Celsius in winter, and the highest temperature was recorded here in 2011 and was -12.3 degrees Celsius.

In contrast, the average annual temperature in the Arctic region (North Pole) is – 43 degrees Celsius in winter and about 0 degrees in summer.

There are several reasons why the South Pole is colder than the North Pole. Since Antarctica is a huge landmass, it receives little heat from the ocean. In contrast, the ice in the Arctic region is relatively thin and there is an entire ocean underneath, which moderates the temperature. In addition, Antarctica is located at an altitude of 2.3 km and the air here is colder than in the Arctic Ocean, which is at sea level.

4. There is no time at the poles

Time is determined by longitude. So, for example, when the Sun is directly above us, local time shows noon. However, at the poles all lines of longitude intersect, and the Sun rises and sets only once a year on the equinoxes.

For this reason, scientists and explorers at the poles use time from any time zone whichever they like best. Typically, they refer to Greenwich Mean Time or the time zone of the country they are coming from.

Scientists at Amundsen-Scott Station in Antarctica can take a quick run around the world by walking 24 time zones in a few minutes.

5. Animals of the North and South Pole

Many people have the misconception that polar bears and penguins share the same habitat.

In fact, penguins live only in the southern hemisphere - in Antarctica where they don't have natural enemies. If polar bears and penguins lived in the same area, the polar bears would not have to worry about their food source.

Marine animals at the South Pole include whales, porpoises and seals.

Polar bears, in turn, are the largest predators in the northern hemisphere. They live in the northern part of the Arctic Ocean and feed on seals, walruses and sometimes even beached whales.

In addition, the North Pole is home to animals such as reindeer, lemmings, foxes, wolves, as well as sea animals: beluga whales, killer whales, sea ​​otters, seals, walruses and more than 400 known species fish

6. No Man's Land

Despite the fact that many flags can be seen at the South Pole in Antarctica different countries, This the only place on earth that belongs to no one, and where there is no indigenous population.

The Antarctic Treaty is in force here, according to which the territory and its resources must be used exclusively for peaceful and scientific purposes. Scientists, researchers and geologists – the only people, which from time to time set foot on the soil of Antarctica.

Against, More than 4 million people live in the Arctic Circle in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Scandinavia and Russia.

7. Polar night and polar day

The Earth's poles are unique places where the longest day, which lasts 178 days, and the most long night, which lasts 187 days.

At the poles there is only one sunrise and one sunset per year. At the North Pole, the Sun begins to rise in March on the day spring equinox and falls in September on the day of the autumnal equinox. At the South Pole, on the contrary, sunrise is during the autumn equinox, and sunset is on the day of the spring equinox.

In summer, the Sun is always above the horizon here, and the South Pole receives sunlight around the clock. In winter, the Sun is below the horizon, when there is 24-hour darkness.

8. Conquerors of the North and South Pole

Many travelers tried to reach the Earth's poles, losing their lives on the way to these extreme points of our planet.

Who was the first to reach the North Pole?

There have been several expeditions to the North Pole since the 18th century. There is disagreement over who was the first to reach the North Pole. In 1908, American explorer Frederick Cook became the first to claim to have reached the North Pole. But his compatriot Robert Peary refuted this statement, and on April 6, 1909, he officially began to be considered the first conqueror of the North Pole.

First flight over the North Pole: Norwegian traveler Roald Amundsen and Umberto Nobile on May 12, 1926 on the airship "Norway"

First submarine at the North Pole: nuclear submarine "Nautilus" 3 August 1956

First trip to the North Pole alone: Japanese Naomi Uemura, April 29, 1978, sledding 725 km in 57 days

First ski expedition: expedition of Dmitry Shparo, May 31, 1979. Participants covered 1,500 km in 77 days.

First to swim across the North Pole: Lewis Gordon Pugh walked 1 km in -2 degrees Celsius water in July 2007.

Who was the first to reach the South Pole?

A Norwegian explorer became the first to conquer the South Pole Roald Amundsen and British explorer Robert Scott, after whom the first station at the South Pole, the Amundsen-Scott station, was named. Both teams took different routes and reached the South Pole within a few weeks of each other, first by Amundsen on December 14, 1911, and then by R. Scott on January 17, 1912.

First flight over the South Pole: American Richard Byrd, in 1928

First to cross Antarctica without the use of animals or mechanical transport: Arvid Fuchs and Reinold Meissner, December 30, 1989

9. North and South magnetic poles of the Earth

The Earth's magnetic poles are associated with magnetic field Earth. They are in the north and south, but do not coincide with geographic poles, since the magnetic field of our planet is changing. Unlike geographic poles, magnetic poles shift.

The North Magnetic Pole is not located exactly in the Arctic region, but shifts east at a speed of 10-40 km per year, since the magnetic field is influenced by underground molten metals and charged particles from the Sun. The south magnetic pole is still in Antarctica, but it is also moving west at a speed of 10-15 km per year.

Some scientists believe that a change may occur one day magnetic poles, and this could lead to the destruction of the Earth. However, the change of magnetic poles has already occurred, hundreds of times over the past 3 billion years, and this did not lead to any dire consequences.

10. Melting ice at the poles

Arctic ice in the North Pole region typically melts in the summer and freezes again in the winter. However, for last years, the ice cap began to melt at a very rapid pace.

Many researchers believe that already by the end of the century, and maybe in a few decades, the Arctic zone will remain ice-free.

On the other hand, the Antarctic region at the South Pole contains 90 percent of the world's ice. The ice thickness in Antarctica averages 2.1 km. If all the ice in Antarctica melted, sea ​​levels around the world would rise by 61 meters.

Fortunately, this will not happen in the near future.

Some fun facts about the North and South Pole:

1. There is an annual tradition at Amundsen-Scott Station at the South Pole. After the last food plane leaves, researchers watch two horror films: the film "The Thing" (about an alien creature that kills the inhabitants of a polar station in Antarctica) and the film "The Shining" (about a writer who is in an empty remote hotel in winter)

2. Arctic tern bird makes a record flight from the Arctic to Antarctica every year, flying more than 70,000 km.

3. Kaffeklubben Island - a small island in the north of Greenland is considered a piece of land that is located closest to the North Pole 707 km from it.

According to popular belief, polar bears and penguins live where there is a lot of snow and ice. This is true, but although these species prefer extreme conditions, V natural environment They do not live in the same territory. Polar bears like the Arctic, and penguins liked Antarctica. Let's take a closer look at where polar bears and penguins live.

Polar bears - habitat and habits

In their natural environment, polar bears live in the polar regions north pole. These animals are well adapted to life in the harsh north with extreme low temperatures. Thanks to their impressive reserves of subcutaneous fat and thick fur, polar bears feel comfortable both on land and in icy water. Such a habitat does not prevent large predators from leading a full-fledged lifestyle.

Polar bears in natural conditions They live in several countries, including Russia, Greenland, Canada, Alaska and Norway. U large predators there is no tendency to migrate, they live in a specific area, giving preference to areas with open water, since fish is the polar bear’s favorite food.

IN summer time Due to rising temperatures, polar bears are scattering. Some animals are even found at the North Pole. Today, the number of these animals is small compared to previous years, but not critical, so it is too early to talk about the disappearance of the species from the face of the planet.

The polar bear is a large terrestrial predator. In nature, males weighing up to 800 kg are often found. The average weight of a male is 450 kg. Females weigh half as much, but before wintering or during pregnancy they significantly increase their body weight. Brown bear is considered the closest relative of the white, so crossing these species usually ends in success.

Peculiarities of seasonal behavior of polar bears

It is striking that polar bears do not have a hibernation period. They remain active throughout the year. As cold weather approaches, animals actively gain subcutaneous fat.

Polar bears get their name from the shade of their fur. IN winter time animals use fur for camouflage. Special attention deserves the intelligence of polar bears. While waiting for prey, these massive predators cover their nose, which is the only dark spot, with their paw. In summer, the polar bear's fur takes on a straw-colored hue. It's a credit ultraviolet rays.

I note that the polar bear has a multi-level “robe”. Black skin that perfectly absorbs solar heat, covered by a fluffy undercoat. The animal also has long protective hairs. They are transparent and characterized by excellent thermal conductivity.

Polar bears are unusually hardy. Despite their decent body weight, animals move quickly, taking advantage of leaping running. Often, in pursuit of prey, the predator overcomes up to 500 meters.

The polar bear also feels great in the water. Without a break, he swims up to 1 km. This animal is also an excellent diver. For five minutes he calmly engages in spearfishing.

The polar bear's diet includes fish, sea and land animals. Sometimes seals also end up on the predator’s table. Thanks to a decent supply of fat, it goes without food for a long time, but if luck smiles, it eats up to 20 kg of meat at a time.

Polar bears don't drink. They obtain the liquid they need for a full-fledged existence from food of animal origin. I note that due to the cold climate they do not sweat profusely. So they practically do not lose moisture.

Penguins - habitat and habits

Penguins are funny birds. They have wings, but they don't fly. They are clumsy on land, but extremely graceful in water. Many people are of the opinion that they live only in Antarctica. This is wrong. This part of the planet is inhabited by only 3 species; the remaining species like warmer climes.

With the exception of the breeding season and feeding of offspring, penguins stay in the open sea of ​​the Southern Hemisphere. The bulk of birds are concentrated in Antarctica and on the territory of nearby islands. IN tropical latitudes they appear in places with cold currents Galapagos Islands, which are located near the equator, are considered the most northern place penguin habitats.

Where are penguins found?

• Antarctica. A continent with a harsh climate, eternal ice and extremely low temperatures has become an ideal place for the life of the Antarctic and Emperor penguins, as well as the appearance of Adele. From early spring to mid-autumn they live in the ocean, after which they return to land, unite in colonies, build nests, reproduce and feed their offspring.
• Africa. The hot African coast, washed by the cold Benguela Current, has become a favorite spectacled penguins. This species is incredibly sociable. It is not surprising that many tourists come to the Cape of Good Hope every year for an unforgettable experience with birds.
• Australia. The Australian or blue penguin lives here. It differs from other species in its modest weight and small height - 1 kg and 35 cm, respectively. Largest quantity representatives of small looking concentrated on Phillip Island. Travelers visit this place to admire the Penguin Parade. Small birds gather at the water's edge in small groups, after which they sway and march towards their holes in sandy hills.
• Argentina. The Orkney and Shetland Islands are inhabited by King Penguins, which grow up to a meter in height. Authorities Latin America They protect these birds in every possible way, which helps to increase the population.
• New Zealand . The islands here are home to Magnificent penguins - the most rare view. Their distinctive feature– accommodation for couples. They are not going to the colony. Due to the small number of individuals, the species is protected.
• South Atlantic . Golden-haired penguins are found on the coast of Chile, the Falkland Islands and Tierra del Fuego. Their huge colonies attract tourists with the amazing singing of the males, which so attracts the females.
• Peru. The Peruvian coast, along which a cold current runs, is the home of Humboldt penguins. For various reasons, their numbers decrease annually, with a total of 12 thousand pairs.

As you can see, there are a considerable number of species of penguins, each of which lives in its own amazing corner. These birds are unique, and humanity simply must ensure that they continue to delight us with their unique appearance and other individual characteristics.

Peculiarities of seasonal behavior of penguins

The way of life of penguins is extremely unusual. It's not surprising, because these flightless birds They use their wings as fins, and all parents take part in raising and feeding their offspring.

In penguins, the courtship period ends with the birth of offspring. The result of the joint efforts of a married couple is an egg. It needs protection from snow, otherwise, under the influence of low temperatures, the offspring will die on initial stage.

The female carefully places the egg on the male's paws and goes in search of food. Having received the egg, the male envelops the unborn baby with an abdominal fold. He will have to warm the egg for 2 months. Often, in order to preserve offspring, the male resorts to the help of other members of the fraternity.

After the baby appears, the male feeds it with milk, the production of which is responsible for the bird’s stomach and esophagus. Penguin milk is an incredibly nutritious liquid containing 10 times more fat and protein than cow's milk.

While the father takes care of the child, the female catches squid and fish. The penguin's tongue is covered with "spines" turned towards the pharynx. If the prey gets into the beak, it will not be possible to escape.

Penguins hunt in flocks. The females, gathered in a large group, dive into the water and, opening their mouths wide, fly at speed into a school of fish. After such a maneuver, a tasty morsel is sure to end up in the mouth.

Upon returning, the female, which has gained weight, fattens the hungry family members. In her stomach, a caring mother brings up to 4 kg of half-digested food. The little penguin is transferred to its mother's paws and eats the delicacies brought for several weeks.

Video material

Where do polar bears and penguins live in captivity?

Every person who has visited the zoo has probably seen a polar bear. Spacious pens are equipped for these animals, where conditions are created that best match the natural environment. We are talking about simulating a cold climate, creating ponds with ice water and snow shelters.

In animals living in captivity, the fur sometimes takes on a green tint. This is because when exposed to high temperatures, fur becomes an ideal environment for algae to grow.

In the territory Central Europe penguins are found exclusively in zoos. Administrators of some establishments organize “penguin marches” for visitors. Under the supervision of zoo workers, the birds leave the enclosure for a walk. Zoos in Edinburgh, Munich and others organize such events. major cities Europe.

Penguins living in captivity often encounter fungal infections that affect the respiratory tract. Therefore, for preventive purposes, birds are kept behind glass partitions in the summer.