Facts about the Arctic

1. 08

   Migratory Arctic terns travel roughly 44,000 miles annually between Arctic and Antarctic regions, experiencing two summers yearly and more daylight than any other animal on Earth.

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2. 07

   Narwhal tusks, which are elongated canine teeth unique to males in Arctic waters, can grow up to 10 feet long and contain millions of sensory nerve endings.

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3. 06

   Inuit peoples have inhabited the Arctic for over 4,000 years, developing specialized hunting techniques and tools like the kayak to survive in one of Earth's harshest environments.

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4. 05

   Arctic sea ice extent has declined by approximately 13 percent per decade since 1979, according to satellite measurements from the National Snow and Ice Data Center.

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5. 04

   Greenland's ice sheet loses approximately 280 billion tons of ice annually, contributing roughly 0.75 millimeters per year to global sea level rise since 2002.

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6. 03

   Midnight sun conditions in the Arctic last approximately 188 days annually above the Arctic Circle, with Barrow, Alaska experiencing continuous daylight from May 10 to August 2.

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7. 02

   Polar bears in the Arctic can swim continuously for up to 60 miles without resting, using their large paws as paddles to traverse the frigid ocean.

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8. 01

   Permafrost across the Arctic contains twice as much carbon as Earth's entire atmosphere, with thawing releasing methane and CO2 since the 1980s.

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