10 Arctic Ocean Facts You Might Not Know

The Arctic presents a stunning landscape with breathtaking views, showcasing nature’s beauty and ruggedness. The white ice cover over the freezing waters enchants and attracts nature enthusiasts and lovers of unique once-in-a-lifetime experiences. In this article, let us explore the ten fascinating Arctic Ocean facts.

Table of Contents

1. Arctic Ocean took shape approximately 65 million years ago

Per scientists, the Arctic Ocean formed 65 million years ago during the Cenozoic Era due to the spreading and gradual expansion of the seafloor and the opening of the Arctic Ocean Basin.

Arctic Ocean

The region was once a chunk of land called the Arctic Continent that broke into pieces and formed the Arctic Ocean.

The water body is unique because it is surrounded by land with only some narrow straits connecting it with neighbouring oceans. Its formation took millions of years, and it evolved due to the growth and retreat of ice sheets, sea level changes in the bygone ages, and variations in oceanic circulations.

2. Arctic comes from the Greek word ‘arktikos’, which means bear

The Arctic Ocean is named so after the Arctic region, which is the land surrounding the North Pole. The Arctic is derived from the Greek word ‘arktikos’, which means ‘near the bear’ or ‘northern’.

It is important to note that bear here does not mean polar bears. Instead, it refers to the Ursa Major constellation, also called the Great Bear. This constellation has been mentioned in the folklore of many cultures.

Speaking of Inuit mythology, Great Bear is also called Nanook. It is viewed as a powerful and wise spirit that is said to guide the souls of humans into their afterlife. It is also mentioned in the Chinese, Native American and Greek mythological stories.

The Great Bear shines in the northern skies and helps sailors find their way, serving as a vital navigational aid. It is also known as Arktos in Greek and helps find the North Star.

3. Fridtjof Nansen was the first to undertake an expedition to the Arctic Ocean

Fridtjof Nansen undertook an important expedition to the Arctic Ocean from 1893 to 1896. However, he did not cross the Arctic as it only became possible via sturdy ships in the 20th century.

However, Nansen made important contributions through his expedition. His ship Fram sailed north towards the North Pole; however, the ice was quite thick, and his ship could not move forward. Hence, his team and Nansen moved out to explore the area on skis and sledges. They made scientific observations of the Arctic. Through his initiative, many explorers were inspired to cross the harsh ocean.

Fridtjof Nansen

Roald Amundsen was the first to cross the Arctic Ocean from 1903 to 1906. The Norwegian explorer and his crew traversed the rough waters on their vessel Gjoa from Norway to Alaska through the Arctic while going through the perilous Northwest Passage.

The expedition aided in exploring the Arctic and established Amundsen as one of the greatest polar explorers still remembered today.

4. Arctic is the smallest and shallowest of the world’s oceans

The Arctic covers about 14,060,000 km2 or 5,430,000 sq miles. It is also one of the coldest oceans on our planet. It is also the smallest, covering less than three per cent of the earth’s surface. Most of it is covered with ice, whose thickness varies with the season.

It has an average depth of around 1038 metres or 3406 ft, which makes it less deep than the Southern Ocean. The Arctic Ocean lies around the North Pole and is also close to the northern regions of Eurasia, North America and Greenland. Many islands lie close to the Arctic Ocean.

The deepest point of the Arctic Ocean lies in the Eurasian Basin, which is 5450 m deep. The ocean has a 45,390 km long coastline. Some nations that border the Arctic Ocean include Russia, Iceland, Norway, Canada and the U.S.

5. Arctic has abundant natural resources

The Arctic has many natural resources, including minerals, that can be highly profitable to humankind. It is said to have vast reserves of natural gas and oil, iron ore, nickel, copper, zinc phosphates, precious metals, gemstones and diamonds. While these are abundant, there is a need for expanding operations to increase production.

It is also rich in fisheries, and since 2011 about eight metric tons have been harvested in Arctic waters.

reserves of natural gas and oil

Rock, stone, sand and gravel are mined in the Arctic region for offshore construction projects. With increasing development in the region, the procurement of these materials is also estimated to increase.

Interestingly, a political dead zone near the Arctic Sea’s centre is related to a dispute among some countries in the region. This is because it might have 25% or more of the undiscovered oil and natural gas.

6. Arctic Ocean experiences a polar climate

Winter in the Arctic is characterised by the polar night, cold and stable weather, including clear skies, offering a sight to behold. However, the sea temperature is quite constant throughout the year and is only -2 degrees celsius.

Since the Arctic Ocean has a saltwater, the temperatures must go to -1.8 degrees Celsius before it can freeze in winter.
Most of the Arctic’s ice pack is layered with snow for around ten months, and the maximum snow cover is in March and April. The climate has changed significantly, and the Arctic Ocean has become warm enough to support tropical life.

Winter starts in September and lasts till May. The ice packs are impacted by the ocean and wind currents.

However, the Arctic ice is melting due to increasing ocean temperatures and global warming. More ice melts in summer, and less water is freezing during the cold months.

Despite the harsh weather, many people visit the Arctic. Most travel starts from Svalbard island, Norway and also Nuuk, Greenland.

7. Has a cool underwater ridge called the Lomonosov Ridge

The Arctic Ocean has an underwater ridge called the Lomonosov that divides the North Polar Basin into 2 oceanic basins, the Eurasian basin that is 4000 to 4500 m deep. The other one is the Amerasian/ North American or Hyperborean Basin, which is 4000 m deep.

Lomonosov Ridge

The ocean bottom also has many plains, ocean deeps, basins, block ridges and faults. The deepest point of the Arctic Ocean is Molloy Hole which is situated in the Fram Strait at 5550 metres. This is a frigid trench which is nearly rectangular and is also active seismically. It lies 274 km west of Svalbard in Norway.

Victor Vescovo was the first and, till now, the only person to reach the Molloy Deep’s button. He achieved it on 24th August 2019. The leader of the Five Deeps Expedition, Vescovo, descended into the Deep and estimated its depth.

8. Arctic is home to polar bears, which are not found anywhere else in the world

Polar bears are one of the biggest land predators found only in the Arctic. They are categorised as hypercarnivores due to their diet, which consists largely of meat. They have a thick fur layer and a layer of fat that protects them from the extreme cold on land and sea. Their favourite prey is seals, and polar bears can be seen at sea in summer, searching for ice to hunt seals.

Their cubs are born in dens during winter. Sadly, polar bears are threatened with extinction due to rising temperatures in the Arctic which might lead to melting ice caps and glaciers. They are found all along the Arctic Ocean, in Alaska, Canada, parts of Russia, Norway and Greenland.

9. Arctic Ocean is rich in marine biodiversity, especially fish species

The Arctic region has a fragile ecosystem impacted by global warming. The Arctic has walruses and four species of whales, including the grey whale, beluga, bowhead whale and narwhal. Also, six species of seals, including the ribbon seal, ringed seal, harp seal, hooded seal and bearded seal, are found in the waters of the Arctic.

The Arctic also has sponges and sea anemones which feed the bottom-dwelling fish. Additionally, the explorers have discovered more fish species here than anywhere else.

beluga

Lion’s mane jellyfish are also found in abundance in the Arctic waters. Also, banded gunnel is the only gunnel species found in the Arctic Ocean.

It has almost no plants apart from the phytoplankton. They are an important part of the Arctic and feed on the nutrients from rivers and the oceanic currents from the Atlantic and the Pacific.

In summer, the sun shines during the day and night, allowing the phytoplankton to photosynthesise for longer. The opposite happens in winter when it struggles to get sunlight to survive in the harsh Arctic region.

10. There are many ports and harbours in the Arctic Ocean

The Arctic Ocean is mostly covered with ice. It does not have many ports because of the harsh weather conditions. The ports transport essential items to sparsely populated communities, handling research and extracting resources.

Some major ports of the Arctic include the Murmansk port of Russia. It lies in Kola Bay in the Barents Sea. It is a major facility handling oil, coal and other items while serving as a naval base as well.

Kirkines port is a major port which connects Norway, Finland and Russia. It is a deep water facility that is ice-free throughout the year, which makes it essential for shipping and fishing.

Another important port is Churchill, a deep water port that remains ice-free all year round for many months. It ships grains, oil and other items.

Russia’s Tiksi port is another crucial port for shipping goods to and from the Russian Arctic.

You might also like to read-

Disclaimer :
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. While we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.

Do you have info to share with us ? Suggest a correction

About Author

Zahra is an alumna of Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is an avid writer, possessing immaculate research and editing skills. Author of several academic papers, she has also worked as a freelance writer, producing many technical, creative and marketing pieces. A true aesthete at heart, she loves books a little more than anything else.