Is the North or South Pole Colder?

The Earth is home to some extreme climates. Along the Equator, the hottest spots in the world exist: Mali, Burkina Faso, and Senegal. Farther away from the Equator, the Earth can get very cold. While countries like Russia and Canada experience chilly temperatures, the coldest spots in the world are at the North and South Poles. Both of these spots see extreme freezing temperatures on an almost daily basis.

But is one pole chillier than the other? In the United States, it’s easy to assume that north is the coldest direction, therefore the North Pole is the coldest spot. But in the southern hemisphere, southern countries are farther from the Equator, and therefore, south is the coldest direction! So what does that mean for the coldest pole on the Earth? First, let’s uncover what makes up the North and South Poles. Then we’ll figure out which one is colder!

What are the North and South Poles made up of?

Let’s figure out what the North and South Poles are made of. Are they water? Are there countries there? The answer is a bit different for each pole.

The North Pole is not a country, nor does it have any land mass associated with it. The North Pole is actually a chilly stretch of water. It’s found in the Arctic Ocean, and it simply summarizes the top point of the Earth’s access. Santa’s factory hasn’t been located on the North Pole. In fact, it’d probably be underwater!

The South Pole, however, is associated with a land mass. The southernmost point of the Earth’s axis can be found in Antarctica. Antarctica is a continent that isn’t owned by anyone, so it’s not a country. It’s merely a landmass with seriously extreme temperatures!

Which is colder: the North or South Pole?

When you consider the fact that the North Pole is made up of chilly, icy water, while the South Pole is on land, it’s easy to assume that the North Pole is colder than the South Pole. Ice water seems really cold! However, this isn’t the case: the South Pole is colder than the North Pole.

Let’s take a peek at some average annual temperatures. NASA has provided some great statistics on which Pole is colder at each time of the year!

Wow! While both Poles experience really intense temperatures, the South Pole is significantly colder. The average summer temperature is nearly fifty degrees warmer!

Why is the South Pole so much colder than the North Pole?

A few different factors explain why the South Pole is the chillier of the two poles. First, elevation comes into play. Snow and ice stack up to make Antarctica’s land mass, and this makes the elevation higher than the North Pole’s sea level. Higher elevation means chillier temperatures.

Another reason is wind. With water on every side, the South Pole receives wind from all directions. However, the North Pole is water in and of itself, surrounded by various countries and land masses over 1,000 miles away. While these land masses feel far, they do deter some of the wind, so the wind chill in the North Pole is less severe.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Bobtokyoharris/iStock via Getty Images