The Arctic and Antarctica are very cold places, home to many animals. Some animals have adapted to extremely cold weather. Read more about the various animals that live in these climates and how they cope with these extreme weather conditions…

The Arctic is a very cold, windy and often snowy location around the North Pole. When referring to the Arctic, people usually mean the part of the earth within the Arctic Circle (an imaginary circle around the Earth). Although there is no land at the North Pole, the icy Arctic Ocean is teeming with life ranging from the microscopic (like zooplankton) to the huge (like whales). Long periods of darkness (in the winter) and light (in the summer) also affect Arctic life.

Antarctica Temperatures in Antarctica can reach -88ºC, but many animals live in this part of the world. Antarctica, the frozen continent surrounding the Earth’s South Pole, and the frigid seas surrounding it, is home to many animals. In particular, the Antarctic seas are teeming with life, ranging from microscopic plankton to the biggest animal that ever lived on Earth, the Blue whale. Antarctica is the coldest, windiest and driest place on Earth.

Some animals leave Antarctica during its horrendous coldest months, from June until August. Animals like the Humpback whale migrate to warmer waters to reproduce after eating huge amounts of krill in Antarctic waters. Many other animals (like the Emperor penguin) remain in the Antarctic all year round.

How do these animals cope in extreme cold temperatures?

• Some animals like the arctic fox and the polar bear have a very thick coat in the winter.

• Some animals hibernate during the winter - they go into a very, deep sleep.

• Some animals like the Arctic tern (a bird) and some whales leave during the cold months.

• Some animals like the whale and seal have a thick layer of fat to keep them warm.

• Some fish and insects have special chemicals in their blood to stop their blood freezing.

• Some animals like the penguin and the seal have a small body and thick skin to keep in the heat.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/school/Antarctica/Animalprintouts.shtml

http://www.learnenglish.org.uk/kids/archive/theme_coldanimals.html

How much have you learnt?

Try this simple quiz to find out...

1. Antarctica is a huge land continent. How much of it is covered in ice?

a. about 8% of the land is covered in ice

b. about 48% of the land is covered in ice

c. about 98% of the land is covered in ice

2. How thick is the ice cap in Antarctica?

a. 200-450 metres thick

b. 2,000-4,500 metres thick

c. 20,000-45,000 metres thick

3. Antarctica is the coldest, windiest place on Earth. What’s the coldest temperature recorded there?

a. around -38ºC

b. around -56ºC

c. around -88ºC

4. Which people live in Antarctica?

a. many different people who have lived there for thousands of years

b. scientists

c. nobody

5. The seas of Antarctica have a lot of wildlife - whales, birds, fish, and seals. What do these animals mostly eat?

a. Penguins

b. Krill – small animals like prawns

c. Plants

6. Most of the birds are penguins. What’s unusual about these birds?

a. they live in nests made of ice

b. they’re covered in fur

c. penguins can’t fly