South Pole facts for kids

1. South Geographic Pole
2. South Magnetic Pole (2007)
3. South Geomagnetic Pole (2005)
4. South pole of inaccessibility

The South Pole is the southernmost point on Earth. It is also known as the Geographic South Pole. This is where the Earth's spinning axis meets its surface in the Southern Hemisphere. It is different from the south magnetic pole, which is where compasses point.

The South Pole is exactly 90 degrees South in latitude. From this spot, every direction you look is North! All lines of longitude meet here, so it doesn't have a specific longitude. There is no official time zone at the South Pole. People often use New Zealand Time for convenience. The South Pole is located on the continent of Antarctica. It is home to the United States Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station. This research station was built in 1956 and has had people living there ever since.

The South Pole is covered by a thick sheet of ice, about 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) deep. This ice sheet moves slowly, so the exact spot of the Geographic South Pole changes a few meters each year. Because of this, a special marker is moved annually. Buildings at the station also get buried by snow over time. There is also a Ceremonial South Pole. This spot has flags from different countries and a special post for visitors to see.

Exploring the Geographic South Pole

History of South Pole marker designs

Geographic South Pole marker, 2008

The Geographic South Pole is the point where the Earth's axis of rotation touches its surface. Imagine a line going straight through the Earth from top to bottom; that's the axis. The South Pole is the bottom end of this line. For very precise science, scientists know the Earth's axis has tiny "wobbles."

The location of the South Pole is simply 90°S. Its longitude isn't usually given because all lines of longitude meet there. At the South Pole, every direction you face is North. To help with directions, people use "grid north." This points along the Prime Meridian towards the North.

The Geographic South Pole is on the continent of Antarctica. It sits on a flat, icy plateau. This area is about 2,835 meters (9,301 feet) above sea level. It is about 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) from the nearest open sea. The ice sheet here is about 2,700 meters (8,900 feet) thick. This means the land underneath the ice is actually close to sea level.

The massive ice sheet is always moving. It shifts about 10 meters (33 feet) each year. This movement means the research station and markers slowly drift away from the true geographic pole. Each year, on New Year's Day, a ceremony takes place. A new marker is placed at the exact Geographic South Pole. This marker includes the dates when Roald Amundsen and Robert F. Scott first reached the Pole. It also has a short quote from each explorer.

The Ceremonial South Pole

The Ceremonial South Pole in 1998.

The Ceremonial South Pole as of February 2008.

The Ceremonial South Pole is a special area at the South Pole Station. It's a popular spot for taking pictures. It is a short distance from the actual Geographic South Pole. This area features a shiny metal sphere on a striped pole. It is surrounded by the flags of the countries that first signed the Antarctic Treaty.

Historic Monuments at the Pole

Amundsen's Tent

Amundsen's party at the South Pole, December 1911. From left to right: Amundsen, Hanssen, Hassel and Wisting (photo by fifth member Bjaaland).

Roald Amundsen and his Norwegian team set up this tent. They arrived at the South Pole on December 14, 1911. The tent is now buried deep under the snow and ice. It is recognized as a Historic Site or Monument (HSM 80). Scientists believe it is now about 1.8 to 2.5 kilometers (1.1 to 1.6 miles) from the Pole. It is also about 17 meters (56 feet) below the surface.

Argentine Flagpole

Argentinian soldiers saluting the flag after erecting the pole in 1965

In December 1965, the First Argentine Overland Polar Expedition placed a flagpole at the South Geographic Pole. This flagpole is also a recognized Historic Site or Monument (HSM 1).

History of South Pole Exploration

People first saw the continent of Antarctica in 1820. A Russian expedition led by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev was among the first. The first person to likely step on the ice was American captain John Davis a year later. For a long time, the shape of Antarctica's coastline was not fully known.

Early Attempts to Reach the Pole

In the early 1900s, explorers began trying to reach the South Pole. British explorer Robert Falcon Scott led the Discovery Expedition (1901–1904). He tried to find a path from the coast to the Pole. In 1902, he reached 82°16′ S, which was the furthest south anyone had been. Later, Ernest Shackleton led another expedition. In 1909, he got within 180 kilometers (112 miles) of the Pole before having to turn back.

The Race to the Pole

The first people to reach the Geographic South Pole were Roald Amundsen and his Norwegian team. They arrived on December 14, 1911. Amundsen named his camp Polheim. He also named the surrounding plateau King Haakon VII Vidde. Just 34 days later, on January 17, 1912, Robert Falcon Scott and his four companions reached the Pole. Sadly, Scott and his team died on their return journey due to extreme cold and lack of food.

In 1914, Ernest Shackleton tried to cross Antarctica through the South Pole. However, his ship, the Endurance, got stuck in ice and sank. The journey across the continent was never completed.

Flying Over the Pole and Modern Exploration

US Admiral Richard Evelyn Byrd was the first person to fly over the South Pole. He did this on November 29, 1929, with pilot Bernt Balchen.

Humans did not set foot at the South Pole again until October 31, 1956. A US Navy team led by Admiral George J. Dufek landed there by plane. The US Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station was then built in 1956–1957. It has been a continuously staffed research station ever since.

Many explorers have reached the South Pole since then. Edmund Hillary and Vivian Fuchs led the first overland crossing with air support in 1958. In 1969, Pam Young, Jean Pearson, Lois Jones, Eileen McSaveney, Kay Lindsay, and Terry Tickhill became the first group of women to reach the pole. Michele Eileen Raney was the first woman to spend a winter at the South Pole in 1978–1979.

In 1989, Arved Fuchs and Reinhold Messner were the first to cross Antarctica via the South Pole without any animal or motorized help. They used only skis and the wind. Also in 1989, Victoria E. Murden and Shirley Metz reached the pole by land.

More recently, people have set records for speed. In 2024, Vincent Colliard set the fastest unsupported journey from the ocean to the Geographic South Pole. He completed it in 22 days, 6 hours, and 8 minutes. The fastest solo, unsupported trek by a woman was by Hannah McKeand in 2006. She finished in 39 days, 9 hours, and 33 minutes.

In 2011–2012, Norwegian Aleksander Gamme and Australians James Castrission and Justin Jones made the first unsupported trek from the Antarctic coast to the South Pole and back. Gamme was the first to complete this solo. On December 28, 2018, Captain Lou Rudd became the first Briton to cross Antarctica unassisted via the South Pole. In January 2025, Norwegian Karen Kyllesø became the youngest person to ski to the pole solo and unassisted.

Climate and Day and Night Cycle

South Pole telescope during polar night. The green light is the southern lights

The South Pole has a very unique climate. During winter, from May through August, it is completely dark. There is no sunlight at all, only moonlight. In summer, from October through February, the Sun is always visible. It stays low in the sky, never getting very high. This is because of the Earth's tilt.

The white snow reflects most of the sunlight. This, along with the high altitude of about 2,800 meters (9,200 feet), makes the South Pole one of the coldest places on Earth. It's even colder than the North Pole. The North Pole is at sea level and surrounded by ocean. The South Pole is high up in the middle of a continent.

In midsummer (January), high temperatures average around -26.0°C (-14.8°F). As the six-month "day" ends, temperatures drop. They reach about -55°C (-67°F) around late March and late September. In the middle of winter, the average temperature stays around -60°C (-76°F). The warmest temperature ever recorded at the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station was -12.3°C (9.9°F) on Christmas Day, 2011. The coldest was -82.8°C (-117.0°F) on June 23, 1982.

The South Pole has an ice cap climate. It is like a desert because it gets very little precipitation. The air is also very dry. However, strong winds can cause snow to blow around. About 7 centimeters (2.8 inches) of snow accumulate each year. Older buildings at the station were often buried by snow. Newer buildings are built on stilts to prevent snow from piling up against them.

Time at the South Pole

Most places on Earth use local time based on their longitude. This helps match the time of day with the Sun's position. But at the South Pole, the Sun only rises and sets once a year! It stays low in the sky for six months, then disappears for six months. So, there's no natural way to set a time zone.

For practical reasons, the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station uses New Zealand Time (UTC+12 or UTC+13 during daylight saving). This is because supplies for the station come from Christchurch, New Zealand.

Flora and Fauna: Life at the South Pole

Due to its extremely cold and harsh climate, there are no native plants or animals that live permanently at the South Pole. Sometimes, birds like south polar skuas and snow petrels might fly off course and be seen there.

In 2000, scientists found evidence of tiny living things, called microbes, in the South Pole ice. This shows that even in extreme cold, life can exist! Scientists also found fossils in Australia that suggest dinosaurs with feathers once lived near the South Pole millions of years ago. These feathers likely helped them stay warm in the ancient cold.

See also

In Spanish: Polo sur para niños

• List of Antarctic expeditions
• South Pole Telescope
• List of heads of government that have visited the South Pole

Images for kids

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  1. South Geographic Pole
  2. South Magnetic Pole (2007)
  3. South Geomagnetic Pole (2005)
  4. South Pole of Inaccessibility
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  The Geographic South Pole is marked by the stake on the right.

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  NASA image showing Antarctica and the South Pole in 2005

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  Garmin GPS receiver showing 90 Deg South – the South Pole