North Pole

:This is about the geographic meaning of "North Pole." For the cities, see North Pole, Alaska and North Pole, New York.

Geographic North Pole

The Geographic North Pole, also known as True North, is close to the northern point at which the Earth's axis of rotation meets the surface. Geographic North defines latitude 90° North. In whichever direction you travel from here, you are always heading south. The pole is located in the Arctic Ocean, which at this point has a depth of 4087 metres (13,410 feet). Classically (19th century) this pole was exactly where people believed the pole of rotation met the Earth's surface, but soon astronomers noticed a small apparent variation of latitude as determined for a fixed point on Earth by observing stars. This variation had a period of about 435 days and the periodic part of it is now called the Chandler wobble after its discoverer. It is desirable to tie the system of Earth coordinates (latitude, longitude, and elevations or orography) to fixed landforms. Of course, given continental drift and the rising and falling of land due to volcanos, erosion and so on, there is no system in which all geographic features are fixed. Yet the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service and the International Astronomical Union have defined a framework called the International Terrestrial Reference System that does an admirable job. The North pole of this system now defines geographic North and it does not quite coincide with the rotation axis. Also see polar motion.

Related Topics:
True North - Latitude - Arctic Ocean - Chandler wobble - Longitude - Orography - Continental drift - Volcano - Erosion - International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service - International Astronomical Union - International Terrestrial Reference System - Polar motion

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On the basis of the sector principle, Canada claims its sovereignty to extend all the way to the Geographic North Pole. There is no land at this location, which is usually covered by sea ice. The theory under which Canada has claimed sovereignty to the North Pole is controversial as there is in fact 770 km of ocean between the pole and Canada's northernmost land point, and several nations, most notably the United States, have challenged the notion that the North Pole does not lie in international waters.

Related Topics:
Sector principle - Canada - Sea ice - United States

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Expeditions

The first expedition to the pole is generally accepted to have been made by Navy engineer, Anglo-American Robert Edwin Peary and his employee, African-American Matthew Henson and four Inuit men (Ootah, Seegloo, Egingway, and Ooqueah) on April 6, 1909. Polar historians believe that Peary honestly thought he had reached the pole. However a 1996 analysis of a newly-discovered copy of Peary's record indicates that Peary must have been in fact 20 nautical miles (40 km) short of the Pole.

Related Topics:
Robert Edwin Peary - Matthew Henson - Inuit - Ootah - Seegloo - Egingway - Ooqueah - April 6 - 1909

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The first undisputed sight of the pole was in 1926 by Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and his American sponsor Lincoln Ellsworth from the airship Norge, designed and piloted by the Italian Umberto Nobile, in a flight from Svalbard to Alaska.

Related Topics:
1926 - Norwegian - Roald Amundsen - American - Lincoln Ellsworth - Airship - Norge - Italian - Umberto Nobile - Svalbard - Alaska

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On May 3, 1952 U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Joseph O. Fletcher and Lieutenant William P. Benedict landed a plane at the geographic North Pole. Flying with them was scientist Albert P. Crary.

Related Topics:
May 3 - 1952 - Joseph O. Fletcher - William P. Benedict - Albert P. Crary

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The United States navy submarine USS Nautilus (SSN-571) crossed the North Pole on August 3, 1958, and on March 17, 1959, the USS Skate (SSN-578) surfaced at the pole, becoming the first naval vessel to reach it.

Related Topics:
USS Nautilus (SSN-571) - August 3 - 1958 - March 17 - 1959 - USS Skate (SSN-578)

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Ralph Plaisted made the first confirmed surface conquest of the North Pole on April 19, 1968.

Related Topics:
Ralph Plaisted - April 19 - 1968

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The Soviet nuclear-powered icebreaker Arktika on August 17, 1977, completed the first surface vessel journey to the pole.

Related Topics:
Soviet - Icebreaker - Arktika - August 17 - 1977

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On April 6, 1992 Robert Schumann became the youngest person to visit the north pole.

Related Topics:
April 6 - 1992 - Robert Schumann

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