The Arctic Circle

By Terri Mapes, About.com Guide

There are several fun facts about the Arctic and the Arctic Circle:

• 90% of the Arctic have little snow and ice during the summer. As a matter of fact, many kinds of shrubs and plants grow here, but they remain lower to the ground.
• The North Cape is known as the northern-most point of Europe.
• The North Pole is usually not the coldest location in the Arctic.
• The Arctic Circle is approximately 1,650 miles from the North Pole.
• In 2011, Neanderthal remains found near the Arctic Circle have been dated at over 28,500 years old, which is more than 8,000 years after Neanderthals are thought to have disappeared.
• While the sun doesn't rise much during the winter, it does shine every day on the entire Arctic Circle in the summer months.
• Lands along the Arctic include those of Alaska, Canada, Greenland/Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia.
• The Arctic Circle is located exactly 66° 33′39″ north of the Equator.

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• What is the Arctic Circle?
• Where is the Arctic Circle?
• Travel to the Arctic Circle
• Arctic Cruises
• Arctic Expeditions
• Facts About the Arctic
• The Arctic Ocean

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