Polar circle. arctic circle

The Arctic Circle, located in the Northern Hemisphere, runs along 66°33′S… Geography Dictionary

Arctic Circle- The north floor is a bright circle ... Russian spelling dictionary

Arctic Circle - … Spelling Dictionary of the Russian Language

Arctic Circle- (Arctic Circle) Arctic Circle - an imaginary line on the surface of the globe, drawn at 23 ° 30 south of the North Pole (66 ° 30 N), marking the most sowing. the point at which the Sun can be seen on the day of the winter solstice, and the most south. ... ... Countries of the world. Vocabulary

In Norway, the Arctic Circle in Finland, 1975. The Arctic Circle is a parallel in each hemisphere of the planet, from which to the pole lie polar belts, where there is a polar day (in summer) and a polar night (in winter). Since the Arctic Circle is defined in ... Wikipedia

arctic circle- a parallel that is 66 ° 33 ′ from the equator. To the north of the equator is the Arctic Circle, to the south is the Antarctic Circle. On the day of the winter solstice (December 22), north of the Arctic Circle, the Sun does not rise (polar night), but on ... Marine Biographical Dictionary

arctic circle- Parallels that are 66°33′ from the equator and define the boundaries of the polar day and night zones (the Arctic Circle is located to the north of the equator, the Antarctic Circle is located to the south) ... Geography Dictionary

"Arctic Circle" redirects here; see also other meanings. Arctic Circles on a map of the Earth Arctic Circle & ... Wikipedia

Northern (Southern) Arctic Circle- A parallel located at a latitude of 66.5 ° (North or South). During the winter solstice, the sun's rays are directed here at a tangent to the globe Themes ... ... Technical Translator's Handbook

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high parallels. Photo album, . High latitudes, high parallels... This concept is, first of all, geographical. Where the imaginary network of coordinates, pulling together the globe, is getting narrower, trying to converge in one ...
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The Arctic Circle is a conditional parallel on the surface of the planet Earth, passing almost parallel to the equator. Above the latitude at which the Arctic Circle is located, in summer there are polar nights, and in winter - polar days. The existence of the Arctic Circle is inherent only to those planets that have an axis of rotation, which has a non-zero angle of inclination with respect to the plane of the orbit. To determine the latitude of the Arctic Circle, it is necessary to know the angle of inclination of the planet's axis. It is subtracted from the latitude of the pole (which is always 90º).

The polar line exists in both the northern and southern hemispheres of our planet. The space between the polar circle and the geographic pole of the Earth is called the polar belt. An interesting fact is that at the latitudes of the polar circles on the days of the solstice, the central point of the solar disk comes into contact with the horizon line.

The area stretching from the Arctic Circle to the North Pole was called the Arctic. On our planet, the polar circles are located at latitudes of ± 66°33′44″. In their latitudes, one can usually observe both the polar night and the polar day. But there are also two polar belts on the planet with a width of about 53 km, in which there are no polar nights, there is only a polar day. This is due to the fact that the light rays emanating from the heavenly bodies, passing through the atmosphere, are refracted (there is a process of atmospheric refraction). The absence of polar nights in these areas is also affected by the fact that from the surface the solar body looks like a disk (and not like a point element). Among the cities located in latitudes where there are polar days, but there are no polar nights, one can include Uelen, Salekhard, Labytnagi, Salekhard, Turukhansk, Varzuga, Kandalaksha (Northern Belt).

The Arctic Circle, belonging to one earthly hemisphere, has two points of latitude. The duration of the polar day at a latitude of 65.392º is 1 day, and in the Northern Hemisphere it falls on June 22, and in the Southern Hemisphere on December 22. But there are no polar nights in areas located at this latitude at all. Interestingly, the shortest day here is only 3 hours and 10 minutes. At the same time, in areas belonging to latitude 67.727, there are polar nights and have a duration of one day. In the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth, the polar night can be observed on June 22, and in the Northern Hemisphere on December 22. The duration of the polar day here is already 42 days. In summer, the polar day begins on June 1 and lasts until July 13. In winter, the beginning of the polar day falls on December 1, and it ends on January 13.

It should be noted that if the duration of the polar day in a certain region of the planet is from 1 to 41 days, then polar nights cannot be observed there.

This fact can be explained by several reasons:

First of all, you need to understand that our planet earth has the shape of a ball. Its shape determines the concealment from the eyes of the observer of half of the celestial sphere.
Secondly, the polar night or polar day are observed at those moments when the solar disk occupies a certain position relative to the horizon (being under it or above it). The polar day (night) is the whole (and not half) position of the Sun in relation to the horizon line. The angular diameter of the Sun is 32 minutes of arc. If the solar disk comes into contact with the invisible part of the horizon at least with one of its edges, the polar day will come. Dropping even a small distance below the horizon, the Sun still illuminates the area, and therefore, even with the onset of night time, the street is as bright as day. The location of the solar disk relative to the horizon is also influenced by the processes of light refraction in the atmospheric layers. Refraction causes the visibility of the solar disk to the observer even during those periods when it has already completely disappeared beyond the horizon.
The composition of the layers of the atmosphere affects the apparent length of the day, increasing it.

In addition to the usual polar circles, scientists have also discovered a shadow polar circle. It is located at a latitude of 66.34° relative to the equator. Interestingly, north of the arctic shadow there is an area where every year, on June 22, the Sun does not set completely below the horizon, creating a shadow. Now, due to the decrease in the angle of inclination of the earth's axis, there is a gradual displacement of the polar circles. They move away from the equator, moving towards the nearest poles.

During the periods of the winter solstice in the region of the Arctic Circle, the Sun does not rise once. On the southern polar circle, on the contrary, it does not set once. In areas far from the Arctic Circle to the Pole, such periods drag on for a long time. For example, at the south and north poles, the duration of the polar night and day is 176 and 189 days, respectively.

The uneven movement of the globe around its axis causes the instability of the polar circles. They move daily, changing their geographical position and moving about 4 cm per day. During the year, the displacement of the Arctic Circle relative to the axis reaches 14.4 m! But, thanks to modern research technologies, you can quickly determine the exact location of the Arctic Circle at a particular point in time.

The Arctic Circle passes through countries such as Sweden, USA, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Canada, Iceland. On the territory of Russia, the Arctic Circle passes through the following areas: the Republic of Karelia, the Nenets Autonomous Okrug (Arkhangelsk Region), the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, the Republics of Komi and Yakutia, the Murmansk Region.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Arctic Circle passes, and in the Southern, respectively, the line of the Southern First is considered the boundary of the climate and the Arctic. The Antarctic Circle is considered the climatic boundary of Antarctica. On June 21-22 (on the summer solstice), the sun does not set, and on (December 21-22) it does not rise.

Due to changes in the tilt of the earth's axis, there is a daily shift of the Arctic circle line (Arctic circle) up to three meters per day and up to one hundred meters per year. Experts made calculations up to 2015. It has been established that at first the Arctic Circle will shift to the north. In the next nine years after 2015 - four hundred meters to the south.

The boundary of the polar night is determined by the polar circle, if the Sun is a luminous point, while the Earth does not have an atmosphere. In fact, the day begins when the top point of the solar disk appears. Moreover, the apparent position of the luminary is higher than the real one due to refraction (bending of the rays in the atmosphere). In this regard, the Arctic Circle lies fifty minutes south of the border of the polar night.

The concept of the Arctic circle was first introduced by Eudoxus of Cnidus (a student of Plato). He understood the relationship between the tilt of the planet's axis and illumination in different areas of the Earth, connected the climate and the latitude of the area. Eudoxus introduced the definition of "climate". The location of the Arctic Circle, in his opinion, was at 54 degrees. All the places behind him were considered unsuitable for human life.

Around 327 B.C. The first navigator who was able to cross the Arctic Circle was the geographer Pytheas. He observed the Arctic day in the Norwegian Sea.

Cook was the first navigator to cross the Southern Circle. This happened during his round-the-world trip.

The Arctic Circle in Europe runs through the territory of Norway, Finland, Russia, Sweden. The line crosses in Russia the Republic of Karelia, the Murmansk region, and the Mezen Bay to the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Komi and other regions. The part of the mainland, which is located north of the circle, is called the Arctic.

Beyond the Bering Strait, the line continues into America. In this territory, the Arctic Circle passes through Alaska, three regions of Canada. Further, the line goes along Baffin Island, Fox Bay, Greenland and Davis Strait.

The Northern Circle in the North Atlantic passes through the island of Grimsey, which belongs to Iceland, as well as the Norwegian and Greenland seas.

The southern circle crosses a number of territories of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. The line passes through the Antarctic Peninsula, the Lazarev Sea, Weddell Sea, Cosmonauts Sea, Amundsen Bay and the Riiser-Lansen Sea. From the shore of Amundsen Bay, the Arctic Circle line crosses the Commonwealth Sea, Enderby and Princess Elizabeth Land, Truth Coast, Davis Sea, Vincennes Bay in the Mawson Sea, and the Knox Coast. Further, the line alternately passes over the ocean and along various coasts on Wilkes land. Not far from the "Dumont-Durville" (French station) it enters the Pacific sector in the Southern Ocean from the Antarctic continent.

For many, the Arctic Circle seems to be some kind of distant border, beyond which there are eternally snowy harsh lands, where frosts are always fierce, strong winds blow. What is this "circle" and what does it look like?

What is the polar circle?

These are imaginary lines on the surface of the Earth, lying at a latitude of 66 "33" north and south of the equator - a conditional boundary beyond which one can observe such natural phenomena as polar day and night. There, the night lasts from 1 day at the latitude of the circles themselves (North and South) to 176 - actually at the poles (North and South).

During the polar night, the sun does not rise above the horizon at all. In the Northern Hemisphere at the latitude of the circle, the period of night begins on December 22.

The polar day is the time when the sun does not go below the horizon. Moreover, the closer the territory to the pole, the longer this period. At the latitude of the border itself, it lasts 24 hours, and at the pole - 189 days. For example, at the latitude of the city of Murmansk, the night can last 40 days, and the day - 61.

In the Northern Hemisphere, at the latitude of the Arctic Circle itself, such a day begins in June, from the 22nd. A similar phenomenon occurs in parallel in the Southern Hemisphere, but in a different half of the year.

How does the earth move? A little about the distribution of light and heat

The Earth moves in an orbit around the Sun. In addition, it also rotates around its axis, which is inclined to the plane of the orbit of motion. When the Earth is located on one side of this orbit, the Northern Hemisphere is illuminated by the sun's rays more than the Southern Hemisphere.

Thus, at this time in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, respectively, summer and winter. And in the opposite case (the Earth is on the other side of the orbit), on the contrary - winter and summer.

The sun gives energy to all processes that occur on planet Earth. Naturally, when the sun is high above the horizon, the light falls almost vertically on the surface of the planet and, of course, heats it up more. When the sun is low above the horizon, the rays only glide over the surface of the earth, heating it less. Therefore, there is a division into thermal zones.

Most of the light and heat are received by the territories located on both sides of the equator. Almost all year round, the sun is constantly located high above the horizon, while it greatly warms up the land and ocean. This part of the earth is called the tropical belt, because it is located between the tropics (North and South).

At the poles of the Earth, on the contrary, it is cold all year round. Even in the summer, here the sun is quite low on the horizon. These regions are called the North and South polar belts of the Earth. Between the tropical and polar zones are temperate, which are respectively limited by the Northern and Southern tropics and the same polar circles.

Arctic Circle of the Earth's Northern Hemisphere

The northern, like the southern circle, is one of the 5 main geographical parallels indicated on the geographical map of the planet. The Arctic Circle, whose latitude is 66 ° 33 "44" ", is located on the north side of the equator. And the area located north of this circle is the Arctic. South of it is the temperate zone (northern).

The Arctic Circle itself is the southern border of the territory where there are polar days.

Few people live in the territories in those places due to the harsh climate and exceptionally difficult conditions.

And yet, the Arctic Circle of Russia has on its territory three large cities with a considerable amount of population: Murmansk, Norilsk and Vorkuta. Also here is the 4th most populated city of Tromsø (Norway).

Geography of the Arctic Circle

In Alaska, on the side of the Dalton Highway, there is a sign indicating the location of this Arctic Circle on the planet. It extends across the ocean (Arctic), Scandinavian Peninsula, Northern Asia, North America and Greenland.

By land, this conditional border passes through the territories of eight countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, the USA (Alaska), Canada, Denmark (Greenland) and Iceland.

The Arctic Circle of Russia represents beyond its borders the territories of the Arctic (the above cities).

Southern Hemisphere

The Arctic Circle, whose latitude is 66 ° 33 "44" "south of the equator, is a parallel similar to the northern one, located in the opposite hemisphere of the planet. This is also one of the five geographical main parallels of the geographic map of the Earth.

Antarctica is located just south of the Arctic Circle. To the north extends the southern temperate zone. The southern polar circle itself represents the northern boundary of the region of polar days and nights.

Beyond this polar circle there are no indigenous people at all due to the difficult climate of Antarctica. There is a population that works at various scientific stations on this continent.

Antarctica and the Arctic, features

These geographical areas have some differences:

Antarctica is a continent washed on all sides by the waters of the seas and oceans.
The Arctic is an ocean that is under the eternal glaciers, surrounded on all sides by land.
For the first time, people landed on the coast of Antarctica only two hundred years ago, it has never been inhabited by people.
People have been living in the Arctic for about four centuries.
Numerous animals live in Antarctica (a huge number of polar birds, walruses, polar bears and musk oxen), and in the Arctic - a large number of birds and marine mammals (large colonies of penguins, albatrosses, fur seals).
It is better to travel to the Arctic from June to September, and to Antarctica - from October to March.
At any time of the year in the polar regions you can see an abundance of snow and majestic icebergs of the most amazing shapes.

Residents of the Arctic have to do without sunlight in December-January, and in the summer (in June) they can not turn on the lighting in their homes.

The polar sun heats rather weakly. In this regard, the summer in these parts is cold and very short.

For some people, the Arctic Circle is a distant, mysterious place, which is simply unimaginable to reach, where it is always snowy and very cold, while for others it is a familiar everyday life: home, family, work. A huge number of cities in the world are located above the Arctic Circle, and many are far beyond it. Among them, a large share is occupied by the cities of Russia. Large cities with a population of about 200 thousand people and even more, small towns, towns, villages and villages. Many Russians live in the north and are madly in love with their lands.

In many works of fiction, the image of the Arctic Circle has been fixed. In them, the Arctic Circle is a desperate and dangerous place, covered with a thick layer of snow, and looking at the map, these incredible descriptions become clear.

What is the polar circle from the point of view of science? It is from the Arctic Circle that such a phenomenon as the polar day and polar night begins. This is when the sun does not set below the horizon during the night, or does not appear from it during the day. Where the Arctic Circle passes, such a night and such a day happen once a year. The further north you go, the more days there are. Each city and village has its own duration of polar days and nights.

What cities of Russia are located beyond the Arctic Circle? Let's start with the biggest ones.

Major cities of Russia beyond the Arctic Circle

Murmansk is the largest northern city in Russia in terms of population, located beyond the Arctic Circle. Its number is almost 300 thousand people. Murmansk, stretching over 150 square meters, is located on the edge of the Kola Peninsula on the eastern coast of the Kola Bay of the Barents Sea. The eastern outskirts of the city borders on the polar taiga.

The city of Murmansk is also called the "gates of the Arctic". It is the largest ice-free port in the Arctic with a nuclear-powered icebreaker fleet of 8 icebreakers. They have traveled the entire Arctic more than once, having visited the very top of the Earth. The coastal infrastructure of Murmansk, including shipyards, is the closest rear of the Northern Navy. And it is from this city that the start of many Russian and foreign travelers who are on their way to the North Pole begins. In 2016 the city will celebrate its 100th anniversary.

Among the attractions in Murmansk are:

The oceanarium is the only one in the world located beyond the Arctic Circle;

The famous memorial to the defenders of the country "Alyosha", whose height is 31.5 meters.

The Kola bridge is 1611 meters long, and with access roads - 2500 meters, under construction for 12 years. The bridge connects Murmansk with the western part of the Murmansk region, as well as with Finland and Norway.

An observation deck with a beautiful view of the entire city.

Norilsk is the second largest city in our country, located far beyond the Arctic Circle. This city was created in order to develop the unique natural resources of the Taimyr Peninsula. Its population is 176.6 thousand people. Norilsk is located 300 km north of the Arctic Circle. This is a city of permafrost. Even summer here is more than a two-month transition from capricious spring to cold autumn. Frosts in winter reach -56°C.

In the Soviet years, a forced labor camp was located here, which was part of the Gulag. Its prisoners built today's city of Norilsk. City status was assigned to Norilsk in 1953.

Unfortunately, Norilsk is one of the environmentally unfavorable cities in Russia and even the world due to the large number of mining and smelting enterprises. Precious metals are mined in Norilsk in very large quantities: palladium, platinum.

Vorkuta is a city in the north of the Komi Republic with a population of 61.6 thousand people. The city is located in the tundra, in the permafrost zone, 160 km from the Arctic Ocean. In Soviet times, Gulag correctional camps were located here. Summer, like in other northern cities, is cold and short, but with long daylight hours. In the bowels of the earth of this area there is a lot of coal and other minerals. Today, thanks to the great demand for coal around the world, coal enterprises are doing great.

Apatity is a city in the Murmansk region with a population of 57.9 thousand people. It is located on the Kola Peninsula near the Belaya River between Lake Imandra and the Khibiny Mountains. Winter here, although long, is not so severe, with 23 polar nights. Snow lies up to 250 days a year. A city with a developed infrastructure, with its own airport and railway station. The interest of the townspeople is caused by the huge lake Imandra. It is almost a small sea with a large number of islands (about 140) and 20 tributaries.

Severomorsk with a population of almost 49,000 people is located 25 km northeast of Murmansk. This is the seaport of the Kola Bay of the Barents Sea, it is also the naval base of the Northern Fleet of the Russian Federation.

Salekhard is the only city in the world located on the border of the Arctic Circle. Its population is 47.9 thousand people. This is the capital of the largest gas producing region - the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. Founded in 1595.

Monchegorsk with 43.5 thousand inhabitants is located beyond the Arctic Circle on the Kola Peninsula on the northern side of the Monchetundra mountain range near Lake Imandra and Lumbolka. It is located 145 km south of Murmansk. The city was founded in 1937 in connection with the need to extract copper-nickel rocks in the area, which this land is rich in. As a result, Monchegorsk is the center of the country's copper-nickel industry.

Kandalaksha is a city with a population of 33.5 thousand people. This is the southern gate of the Kola Peninsula. The city is located at the mouth of the Kandalaksha Bay of the White Sea and near the Niva River. The sun in July and August practically sets below the horizon, and in November and December it does not appear from it. The commercial sea port of Kandalaksha provides access to all seas and oceans.

Kirovsk is a northern city of our country with a population of more than 27.7 thousand people. This is a city of geologists and miners, it is a center for the extraction of a valuable mineral - apatite. The ski slopes of the Khibiny Mountains bring great popularity to the city. The city cannot boast of architectural sights, since it is still very young, but the beauty of nature and the area cannot leave anyone who has visited it indifferent.

Naryan-Mar - completes the top ten largest cities in Russia in terms of population, located beyond the Arctic Circle. The city is located on the banks of the Pechora River. Founded at the beginning of the 20th century. The population of the city is 23.4 thousand people. Many Russian fishermen come here. Salmon, nelma, whitefish and other valuable fish are found here in large quantities.

Small towns of Russia beyond the Arctic Circle

The following Russian cities are also above the Arctic Circle. Their population is smaller, however, these cities with their traditions and sights also deserve special attention.

Polar (17 thousand people)

Zapolyarny (15.4 thousand people)

Polar dawns (14.9 thousand people)

Nickel (12.1 thousand people)

Gadzhiyevo (11.8 thousand people)

Vorgashor (10.9 thousand people)

Cola (10.1 thousand people)

Zaozersk (9.9 thousand people)

Island (2 thousand people)

Verkhoyansk (1.2 thousand people)

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