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 indicates the latitude above where the Sun does not rise during winter solstice and does not 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 for living in icy habitats. Their skin is black to help absorb heat, and their white fur provides camouflage. The fur is also thicker than other bears. Polar bears have a thick layer of fat under their fur, which insulates them from the cold and also improves their buoyancy.

Polar bears have no natural predators. They usually eat seals, but will also eat the carcasses of dead animals if the opportunity presents itself.

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

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

For most of the year, hurricane-force icy winds blow there, snowstorms are frequent, and in the harsh Arctic summer, at almost constant 0 ° C, gray clouds cover the sky, and fog from the ocean envelops the land. 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 wilderness?

They have adapted perfectly to the merciless climate!

The polar bear, he is 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 over 1 ton in weight.

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

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


The unique thermal insulation allows the predator to live quietly on the snow and overcome tens of kilometers of arctic deserts and literally icy arctic waters.

Where and how do penguins live?

Seven species of penguins - emperor, Adélie penguin, Antarctic, royal, golden-haired, gentoo and crested - have chosen even more harsh territory - Antarctica, polar regions southern hemisphere. At the South Pole, the lowest temperature on Earth was recorded in December 2013 - -91.2 ° C. And on average, the temperature of 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, the islands of the Subantarctic. The endemic of the Snares archipelago - the Snares crested penguin - lives on islands that are densely overgrown with shrubs and trees. Subantarctic penguin - in 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 south to the South Pole, farthest of all and live on the ice surrounding Antarctica. Only for incubation of eggs do they float away to more warm places.

How do penguins stay warm in Antarctica?

Flightless birds in “black tailcoats” have adapted to live, if not in severe cold, like polar bears, but in constant “coolness”, when in summer the temperature often does not rise above + 5 ° C, and in winter it is predominantly -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 paws of the penguins! They not only do not freeze, but also do not freeze to ice, snow.

Completely naked - without feathers, fluff - penguin paws have a temperature of only +4 ° C. Such a physiological setting allows you to endure severe frost as a norm. At the same time, the body temperature of the bird is 39 ... 40 ° C. Wise nature provided penguins with a unique mechanism of blood circulation, organized on the principle of reverse outflow.

With it, hot arterial blood on the 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 only +4 ° C in them. If the paws of the penguins were hot, they would freeze very quickly, but first they froze into the ice, killing the bird.


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

Vera, Vera! Medved! Get up! Medved!

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

- Vera, the madweed has come. Everyone is filming, and you?!

Yoel Gonzalez is a musician from Cuba, Russified a long time ago and settled in St. Petersburg. And now he is traveling on the nuclear icebreaker "50 Years of Victory" to the North Pole.

Musician Yoel Gonzalez at the Geographic North Pole

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

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

In the library - a large cabin where you can borrow or read books about the Arctic, all the hunters for good shots gather.

They drink coffee, look at what has already been filmed. They are waiting for the next bear to be announced on the speakerphone.

mother with cubes!

Cruise for tourists to Rudolf Island, Franz Josef Land

Ecology

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

For centuries, people have tried at the cost of life and health to get and explore the Arctic and the 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

In fact, there are 4 types of the North Pole in terms of science:

north magnetic pole- point on earth's surface at which magnetic compasses are directed

north geographic pole- located directly above the geographic axis of the Earth

North geomagnetic pole- linked to the earth's magnetic axis

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

4 types of South Pole were also established:

south magnetic pole point on the earth's surface where 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- linked to Earth's magnetic axis in the southern hemisphere

South Pole of Inaccessibility- a point in Antarctica, the most distant from the coast of the Southern Ocean.

In addition, there 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 part of Canada, Greenland, Russia, USA, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland.

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

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

Geographical 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.

Medium annual temperature in this area is -58 degrees Celsius in winter, and the highest temperature was recorded here in 2011 and amounted to -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. 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 on a hill 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 the time of any time zone which they like best. As a rule, they are guided by Greenwich Mean Time or the time zone of the country from which they arrived.

Scientists at Amundsen-Scott Station in Antarctica can do 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 are in the same habitat.

Actually, 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, polar bears wouldn't have to worry about their food source.

Among the marine animals of the South Pole are 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, animals such as reindeer, lemmings, foxes, wolves, as well as marine 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 doesn't belong to anyone, and where there is no indigenous population.

There is an agreement on Antarctica, 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 ground 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 longest 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 descends 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 vernal equinox.

In the summer, the Sun is always above the horizon, and the South Pole gets 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 have tried to get to the poles of the Earth, losing their lives on the way to these extreme points our planet.

Who first reached the North Pole?

There have been several expeditions to the North Pole since the 18th century. There is controversy over who reached the North Pole first. In 1908, American traveler 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 Humberto Nobile on May 12, 1926 on the airship "Norway"

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

First solo trip to the North Pole: Japanese Naomi Uemura, April 29, 1978, traveled 725 km on a dog sled in 57 days

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

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

Who first reached the South Pole?

The first conquerors of the South Pole were the Norwegian traveler Roald Amundsen and British explorer Robert Scott, after whom the first station at the South Pole, Amundsen-Scott Station, was named. Both teams went different ways and reached the South Pole with a difference of several weeks, the first was Amundsen on December 14, 1911, and then R. Scott on January 17, 1912.

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

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

9. North and South Magnetic Pole of the Earth

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

The north magnetic pole is not exactly in the arctic region, but moving east at a rate of 10-40 km per year, since the underground molten metals and charged particles from the Sun influence the magnetic field. The South Magnetic Pole is still in Antarctica, but it is also moving westward at a rate of 10-15 km per year.

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

10. Melting ice at the poles

Ice in the Arctic at the North Pole tends to melt in the summer and refreeze 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 without ice.

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

Fortunately, this will not happen in the near future.

Some interesting 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, explorers watch two horror movies: 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, in natural environment they do not live in the same area. Polar bears love the Arctic, and penguins love 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 subpolar regions. north pole. These animals are well adapted to life in the harsh north with extreme low temperatures. Due to the 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 live in several countries, including Russia, Greenland, Canada, Alaska and Norway. At 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 favorite food of the polar bear.

IN summer time due to rising temperatures, polar bears disperse. Some animals are found even at the North Pole. Today, the number of these animals compared to previous years is small, 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 land 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 body weight. Brown bear considered the closest relative of the white, so the crossing of 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. With the approach of cold weather, animals are actively gaining subcutaneous fat.

Polar bears owe their name to the color of their fur. IN winter time Animals use fur for camouflage. special attention deserves the quick wits of polar bears. While waiting for prey, these massive predators cover their nose with their paw, which is the only dark spot. In summer, the polar bear's fur takes on a straw hue. It's merit ultraviolet rays.

I note that the polar bear has a multi-level "robe". Black leather, perfectly absorbent solar heat, covers a fluffy undercoat. The animal also has long protective hairs. They are transparent and have excellent thermal conductivity.

Polar bears are extremely hardy. Despite their decent body mass, the animals move quickly, taking advantage of hopping. Often, in pursuit of prey, a 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 is quietly engaged in spearfishing.

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

Polar bears don't drink. They get the liquid they need for a full existence from food of animal origin. I note that due to the cold climate they do not have profuse sweating. So they practically do not lose moisture.

Penguins - habitat and habits

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

With the exception of the period of reproduction 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 a cold current Galapagos Islands, which are located near the equator, are considered the most northern place penguin habitat.

Where are penguins found?

• Antarctica. A continent with a harsh climate eternal ice and extremely low temperature has become an ideal place for the life of the Antarctic and emperor penguin, as well as Adele's view. From early spring to mid-autumn, they live in the ocean, after which they return to land, unite in colonies, build nests, breed and feed offspring.
• Africa. The hot African coast, washed by the cold Benguela current, was chosen spectacled penguins. This species is incredibly sociable. It is not surprising that many tourists annually come to the Cape of Good Hope 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 stature - 1 kg and 35 cm, respectively. The largest number representatives of small kind 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 march in a swing to holes in sand hills.
• Argentina. The Orkney and Shetland Islands are inhabited by king penguins that grow up to a meter high. Authorities Latin America In every possible way they protect these birds, which contributes to an increase in the population.
• New Zealand . Magnificent penguins live on the local islands - the most rare view. Them distinguishing feature- accommodation for couples. They do not gather in 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, in the Falkland Islands and Tierra del Fuego. Their huge colonies attract tourists with amazing singing males that attract females so much.
• Peru. The Peruvian coast, along which the cold current passes, is the home of the Humboldt penguins. For various reasons, their number decreases annually, there are a total of 12 thousand pairs.

As you can see, there are a considerable number of penguin species, each of which lives in its own amazing corner. These birds are unique, and humanity is simply obliged to make sure that they continue to please us with a unique look and other individual features.

Features of the seasonal behavior of penguins

The way of life of penguins is extremely unusual. It is not surprising, since these flightless birds use wings as fins, and all parents take part in growing and feeding offspring.

In penguins, the courtship period ends with the establishment 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 transfers the egg to the paws of the male and goes in search of food. Having received an egg, the male envelops the future 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 appearance of the baby, the male feeds him with milk, the production of which is responsible for the stomach and esophagus of the bird. 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 "needles" turned in the direction of the pharynx. If the prey hit the beak, it will not work to escape.

Penguins hunt in packs. Gathered in a large company, females dive into the water and, opening their mouths wide, fly into a school of fish at speed. After such a maneuver, a tidbit is sure to be in the mouth.

Upon her return, the female, who has gained weight, feeds the starving members of the family. A caring mother brings up to 4 kg of half-digested food in her stomach. The little penguin is transplanted onto its mother's paws and eats the brought delicacies for several weeks.

Video material

Where do polar bears and penguins live in captivity?

Every visitor to the zoo must have seen a polar bear. Spacious pens are equipped for these animals, where conditions are created that are as close as possible to the natural environment. We are talking about imitation of a cold climate, the creation of reservoirs with ice water and snow shelters.

In captive animals, the fur sometimes acquires a green tint. This is because under the influence of high temperature, the fur becomes an ideal breeding ground for algae.

Within the territory of Central Europe penguins are found exclusively in zoos. The administrators of some establishments organize "penguin marches" for visitors. Under the supervision of zoo workers, the birds leave the enclosure for a walk. Such events are organized by the zoos of Edinburgh, Munich and others. major cities Europe.

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