Summary
Fact checked by Elizabeth MacLennan
Every Christmas, a multitude of letters addressed to Santa make their way to the North Pole. However, where exactly is the North Pole? Depending on your definition, there’s more than one — the Geographic North Pole and the North Magnetic Pole.
Here’s everything you need to know about this fabled but very real land — from Santa’s workshop to its geographical details.
Where is the North Pole?
Let’s start with the North Pole you’re likely thinking of: the Geographic North Pole, also known as the Terrestrial North Pole. This is essentially the top of the Earth, the northernmost point on the planet, and it serves as the center of the Northern Hemisphere.
If you look at a map highlighting the North Pole, you’ll notice that its location is in the middle of the Arctic Ocean. So, what continent is the North Pole on? Unlike Antarctica’s South Pole, the Geographic North Pole is not situated on a landmass, although seasonal temperatures may occasionally cover it with a floating sheet of sea ice.
With no land to be claimed, the North Pole and its surrounding high seas do not belong to any country. The same applies to the North Magnetic Pole, which is the point on Earth where the planet’s magnetic field points directly downwards (like a needle on a compass).
Moreover, the North Magnetic Pole shifts location over time due to magnetic changes in the Earth’s core; it generally resides within the Arctic Circle, not far from the Geographic North Pole. The Arctic region itself, however, is subject to a fierce territorial debate among several countries, including the United States, Canada, Russia, Norway, and Denmark, which owns Greenland.
What is the Weather Like at the North Pole?
As you can probably guess, the climate is extremely cold. Summer temperatures can reach, on average, around 32 degrees Fahrenheit — the freezing point of water. By Christmas time, temperatures drop significantly to around negative 40 degrees Fahrenheit on average.
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The North Pole is indeed a land of extremes. Due to the Earth’s tilted axis as it revolves around the sun, sunlight is either constant or entirely absent depending on the season. In summer, the sun remains above the horizon, resulting in 24 hours of daylight. Conversely, in winter, it stays below the horizon, plunging the area into complete darkness for an entire day. Consequently, the North Pole experiences only one sunrise and sunset each year at the March and September equinoxes, respectively.
Furthermore, the North Pole’s climate could be changing due to global warming. Record temperatures and melting ice caps raise significant concerns about its ecosystem and wildlife, along with rising sea levels that could potentially threaten coastal cities.
Does Santa Have a Workshop in the North Pole?
Of course he does — just not at the Geographic North Pole, as the constantly shifting ice sheets make it challenging to operate a facility meant to supply Christmas presents to children worldwide.
Instead, Santa’s workshop is located at a different North Pole — North Pole, New York, which is a village within Wilmington. Here, visitors can explore the Village of Lights, watch live performances of holiday-themed musicals, and even have breakfast with Santa Claus himself.
Additionally, there’s another North Pole in the U.S. that travelers can visit: North Pole, Alaska. While Santa hasn’t established his workshop there, the city is famous for its year-round Christmas decorations and the Santa Claus House, which displays children’s letters to Santa along its walls. The streets are whimsically named with titles like Kris Kringle Drive and Mistletoe Lane.
