The Arctic! The North Pole! The Arctic Ocean! Mysteries that have drawn people in throughout human history. They attract those who are different, those who seek knowledge, those who strive to find answers, and those with character.
The idea that our Earth is spherical was first suggested by ancient Greek philosophers, including Pythagoras. Later, followers of Pythagoreanism (the name of the philosophical movement) proposed the hypothesis of the Earth’s rotation around its axis. But where is this axis of rotation of our planet, where is this pole? Ancient Greeks speculated that it was where the brightest star in the sky, the Pole Star, is located. Looking up at the sky, alongside the Pole Star, the Greeks saw a large, clear constellation, which they named the Great Bear. They were led to this name by one of the Greek myths, which tells how Zeus transformed the beautiful nymph Callisto into a bear to save her from the wrath of the goddess Hera. In Greek, “ἄρκτος” means “bear”. From the name of the constellation comes the name of this northern region – the Arctic. As for the pole, until the middle of the 15th century, it was called the Arctic Pole, but later it became exclusively known as the North Pole.
By the way, few people know that there are actually four North Poles! The Geographic North Pole is the one everyone knows about. The North magnetic pole, the Northern pole of inaccessibility – the point that is the most difficult to reach due to its remoteness, and the North geomagnetic pole. So, when you decide to conquer the North Pole, first determine which one you’re aiming for.
The first descriptions of the Arctic belong to the contemporary of Aristotle and Alexander the Great, the ancient Greek navigator Pytheas. In his works, Pytheas detailed phenomena such as the aurora borealis and the polar day, which gives us every reason to believe that he was indeed in the Arctic. The history of Scandinavia, the era of the Age of Discovery, and subsequent historical periods inevitably included exploration of the Earth’s Arctic region. Many expeditions vanished without a trace, perished, or were forced to return in unsuccessful attempts to conquer the Arctic. The harsh climate of the Arctic prevented them from doing so! It’s enough to recall the mysteriously disappeared expedition of John Franklin in 1847, when two British ships, along with 129 crew members, vanished during the exploration of the Northwest Passage.
Expeditions to the North Pole gained such great fame that the term “Farthest North” emerged, denoting the northernmost latitude reached by expeditions on their way to the North Pole. The first person undoubtedly considered to have reached the North Pole is the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, which happened in 1926.
Today, Arctic tourism is one of the most sought-after in the world. After all, the Arctic is vast! Here, tourists have a wide range of options to choose from. From the most rugged, such as ski expeditions, to the most luxurious, on a fashionable liner or even on an atomic icebreaker. Only here can you visit the highest point on the planet, the North Pole! You can see icebergs, polar bears, of which there are a huge number in the Arctic, seals, whales, dolphins, narwhals, and Arctic foxes. You can observe how the indigenous peoples of the north live and hunt. You can even ride on a reindeer sled, go fishing, and even see the mysteriously abandoned scientific settlement of Pyramiden in Svalbard. And if you’re lucky, you might even find gold in a stream, just like the characters in Jack London’s books did during the gold rush era.
Today, many tour companies offer tours to the Arctic. But if you want to combine luxury and the harshness of the Arctic, then a cruise liner and glamping are undoubtedly suitable for you. There are plenty of Arctic cruises available, and it all depends on your taste and desire to see specific places. Speaking specifically of the North Pole cruises on Russian nuclear icebreakers by the company Atomflot are perfect. These cruises start from the Russian city of Murmansk. Or on the ship Le Commandant Charcot – the first hybrid passenger icebreaker, which operates on electric batteries and liquefied natural gas. This icebreaker departs from the Norwegian village of Longyearbyen in the Svalbard archipelago. Such cruises take place exclusively in the summer when the ice is not as thick.
But if you prefer land over sea, then glamping tourism is for you. Here, it all depends on your desire to see the vast landscapes of the Arctic.
Today, the Arctic continues to attract explorers, travelers, and adventurers. It may seem that in the 21st century, making geographical discoveries is no longer possible, but that’s not the case. From 2015 to 2018, more than 30 new islands, capes, and bays were discovered in the Arctic region. In 2023, a new island was discovered near the Novaya Zemlya archipelago! So, this is yet another reason to visit the Arctic. Perhaps you’ll be lucky, and while on board an icebreaker heading to the North Pole, you’ll see a faint white haze on the horizon through your binoculars – the coast of a previously unknown island. Then, you can boldly consider yourself the discoverer and give this island your own name.
Forward, my friend, to the mysterious lands, uncharted islands, and lost expeditions. The Arctic awaits you!
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