Arctic Horizon

PHOTO: VINCENT DESROSIERS

ANTARCTIC HORIZON - Journey to the ends of the Earth - A Web Bio

THE ARCTIC

The word ‘Arctic’ comes from ‘arktikos’, Greek for ‘bear’.
Indigenous people have inhabited the Arctic for thousands of years.
There are over 40 different ethnic groups living in the Arctic.
The Arctic is inhabited by approximately four million people.
The Arctic Circle marks the region above which, for at least one day a year, there is all-day sunshine in the summer and 24-hour darkness in the winter.
The lowest temperature recorded was –68.2C in Siberia
The Arctic Ocean covers 5.4 million square miles.
The Arctic Circle is about 1,650 miles south of the North Pole.

THE ANTARCTIC

Antarctica is bigger than Europe and almost double the size of Australia
The highest, driest, coldest and windiest continent on Earth.
Antarctica covers 14.2 million km² (5.5 million square miles)
Maximum ice depth: 15,669 feet (4776 metres)
Average ice depth: 7000 feet (2160 metres)
Ice covers roughly 98% of Antarctica.
Contains 90% of the ice on earth.
Contains 70% of the world’s freshwater.
Lowest temperature ever recoded: -89.2C at Vostok weather station.
The geographic south pole is 9,300 feet (2,830 m) above sea level.

STATEMENT

Our small blue planet is changing - the polar regions faster than many other parts of our world. We must look increasingly North and South, to the Arctic and Antarctic, to see and learn about the dramatic changes taking place.

"I saw that this pale blue dot, this one world, is all we get.
There will be no reset button, no new operating system, no downloadable upgrade
We will not be allowed to trade in our old world for a new one with climate control or better fuel efficiency
We get one shot at this.
Dismiss all reports of second chances; we get one"

Shane Koyczan - "Shoulders" (in part)

Shane is a Canadian spoken word poet, performer and writer.