At first glance, the polar regions look empty. But they are home to rich ecosystems. Lots of plants and animals call this biome home.
There are two polar regions on Earth. The Arctic is in the north. It is on three continents: North America, Europe, and Asia. Antarctica is in the south. It is its own continent.
The polar regions are harsh places. They reach low temperatures. The coldest day on record was in Antarctica in 1983. It was -82.9° Celsius. Temperatures stay below freezing in winter in the polar regions.
In the polar regions, the days can be long or short. Every winter, there is at least one day with no sun. It is always dark. Every summer, there is at least one day with no night. It is always light.
Around 90% of the ice on Earth is in Antarctica. In fact, most of the Earth's glaciers are in the polar regions. Some are the size of a football pitch. Some are hundreds of kilometres long.
Ice in Antarctica is 2,160 metres thick. In different months of the year, the ice melts and freezes.
Many people set out to visit the polar regions. They went on long expeditions. The first person who claimed to have visited the North Pole was Robert Peary. He reached the pole in 1909. But many people do not believe it. They do not think it was possible in the time he said.
The first expedition to reach the South Pole was led by Roald Amundsen in 1911. They travelled on skis and sled dogs. Their journey took 2 months. These expeditions were dangerous. Many people have died trying to reach the poles.
Life in the polar regions is difficult. The temperatures make it hard to survive. There are blizzards that bring high winds.
There are no trees in the polar regions. But there are plants and animals. These plants and animals have special adaptations to help them survive.
Most polar plants are short. It is warmer near the ground. They can also grow under layers of snow.
Many animals in the polar regions are white. It makes them hard to see in the snow. Animals like reindeer have wide hooves to walk on the snow. Their sharp hooves can cut the ice to dig for food.
Animals also have special ways to keep warm. Their thick layers of fat and fur keep them warm. Some animals, like penguins, choose to huddle for warmth.
Even in these harsh parts of the world, life found a way. It shows us how amazing animals and plants are surviving.