Antarctic Circle facts for kids
The Antarctic Circle is an important line on maps of our Earth. It's one of five main circles of latitude. This special line is located at 66° 33′ 39″ south of the Equator. It mostly crosses the Southern Ocean.
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Sunlight and Seasons in the Antarctic Circle
Imagine a place where the sun never sets for a whole day! That's what happens at the Antarctic Circle. During the summer solstice in December, every spot on the Antarctic Circle has 24 hours of daylight. The sun stays above the horizon all day and night.
The opposite happens during the winter solstice in June. On this day, every place on the Antarctic Circle has 24 hours of night. The sun does not rise at all. This means there is at least one full day each year when the sun doesn't set, and one full day when it doesn't rise.
The Antarctic Region
The area south of the Antarctic Circle is called the Antarctic. The land north of it is known as the Southern Temperate Zone.
Most of the land within the Antarctic Circle is the continent of Antarctica. The South Pole is right in the middle of this circle.
Life in Antarctica
No one lives permanently south of the Antarctic Circle. However, several countries have research centers on Antarctica. Teams of scientists live there for parts of the year to study the unique environment.
In the past, some whaling stations were set up in Antarctica. Whalers would sometimes live there for a year or more. It's a very cold place! The lowest temperature ever recorded on Earth was in Antarctica. It was a super chilly −89.2 degrees Celsius (or -128.6 degrees Fahrenheit).
See Also
- Southern Hemisphere
- Northern Hemisphere
- Eastern Hemisphere
- Western Hemisphere
- Seasons
- Solstice and equinox
- Equator
- Tropic of Cancer
- Tropic of Capricorn
- Arctic Circle
Images for kids
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An iceberg near the Antarctic Circle north of Detaille Island
In Spanish: Círculo polar antártico para niños
