Arctic Animals:

The Arctic Circle is where polar bears, Arctic foxes, wolves and reindeer can be found, as well as various species of birds such as snowy owls, bald eagles and those ever-so-charming puffins (no penguins!). The Arctic Ocean provides a home for various types of whales, seals, walruses, fish and plankton.

Arctic People:

The native people who inhabit the Arctic vary throughout the countries included in the Arctic Circle. There are members of the Athabaskan language family who live in Alaska and Canada, the Inuit and Inupiat. The Russian North includes the Komi, the Sakha and the Karelians. A group called the Saami live in the north of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. These people still rely upon and utilize the land and sea for food and for clothing. Barrow is the most populated and northernmost city of Alaska with a population of around 4,500.

Northern Lights and the Midnight Sun:

Due to the position of the Arctic Circle on the planet, summer is a time of abundant light; and on the night of the northern summer solstice, part of the sun may be seen above the horizon at midnight! Darkness is a treat in the Arctic, as well. As the sun starts setting again and the nights grow dark, depending on solar activity, the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis may light up the sky with breathtaking movement of color.