Poles Apart: Comparing the Arctic and the Antarctic Polar regions

Antarctica and the Arctic; on the surface, these fabled regions appear similar. Each is located at the edge of the map, where the world turns on its axis. Both are pristine and ice-covered, characterised by their wild elements and supreme natural beauty. And together, they play host to some of the natural world’s most beloved wildlife – from walruses and polar bears, to the majestic emperor penguin.

But for all their similarities, the Arctic and Antarctica are poles apart – separated not just by distance, but by geography, wildlife, and human influence. And it’s these differences which make each region so compelling and unmissable, cementing them as the ultimate beyond-the-horizon destinations for those travelling on board the World’s First Discovery Yacht, Scenic Eclipse.

With an ice rating of Polar Class 6, Scenic Eclipse can transport you to the wild wonder of the Poles in unrivalled comfort, luxury and safety. Never before have these enchanting, untouched regions felt so within reach – our ultra-luxury discovery yacht affording seamless passage to worlds scarcely seen.

Capable of accessing locations other ships simply cannot, the Scenic Eclipse is your gateway to wonder. Close encounters are all but guaranteed thanks to the ship’s collection of on board discovery vehicles, including two state-of-the-art discovery helicopters and Scenic Neptune, our 6-seater submarine*. So, from land, air or sea, the extraordinary wildlife and landscapes of the Arctic and Antarctica are yours to savour.

The first thing to remember about how the Arctic and Antarctica differ is that one is a continent surrounded by ocean (Antarctica) and the other is ocean surrounded by land. This is crucial not only from an ownership perspective, but also helps explain why and how the regions differ in their climate, geography and native species.

No single country owns either the Arctic and Antarctica. In the Arctic Circle, the ocean is disputed, while the land is divided into territories between eight countries, including Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, the United States, Canada, Denmark, and Iceland.

The Antarctic is different again, with no single country having a permanent stake in the continent. Instead, in 1961, several countries signed the Antarctic Treaty, banning military activity and sovereign claims in the region.

On how the unique geography of the Poles affects Scenic Eclipse itineraries, Jason remarks:

A common misconception surrounding the Arctic and Antarctica is that the two regions share the same wildlife, but this isn’t the case. Penguins, for example, are found only in the Southern Hemisphere, meaning you won’t see any at the Arctic. The reverse is true of the polar bear, whose majestic form can only be seen amid the frozen seas and wild tundra of the Arctic Circle.

Since there are no terrestrial predators in Antarctica, the penguin didn’t evolve to fly, but several species have proliferated across the region – from the king penguin of South Georgia to the macaroni penguin, which can be seen throughout the Antarctic Peninsula.

The mighty polar bear has evolved and adapted to the harsh elements of the Arctic Circle, but is not native to Antarctica. As they evolved in the upper reaches of the Northern Hemisphere, they simply couldn’t survive the journey south through warmer climes – and have thus become one of the most iconic animals to see at the North Pole.

One of the key differences between the Arctic and Antarctica is that Antarctica supports no land mammals, its absence of vegetation making it unsuitable for all but a minority of terrestrial life. In contrast, the Arctic is home to some 48 land mammals, from wolves and lemmings, to reindeer, Arctic foxes and, of course, the wonderful polar bear.

Naturally, a highlight of any Scenic Eclipse voyage is the opportunity to encounter the rare, enchanting wildlife of the polar regions – whether that’s the plentiful marine mammals of Antarctica or the graceful land predators and prey of the Arctic region. Our expert Discovery Team will lead you on unique discovery tours, utilising Scenic Eclipse’s fleet of kayaks and zodiacs to bring you closer than ever before to the extraordinary wildlife of our polar regions.

The human experience of the Arctic differs greatly from that of Antarctica. People have lived among the glaciers, mountains, lakes and frozen seas of the Arctic Circle for thousands of years, and today has a population of some two million permanent residents, including native groups such as the Inuit (Canada), Inupiat (Alaska), Yupik (Russia and Alaska), Chukchi (Russia), Kalaallit (Greenland), Sami (Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia).

In contrast, Antarctica was only discovered several centuries ago, and even today, the continent has no permanent population. Since the 19th century, teams of researchers from several different countries have lived and worked at research bases throughout the region, but as they’re rotated on a regular basis, they aren’t considered residents. Indeed, if you were to combine all the researchers on Antarctica at any one time, the number would be fewer than 1,000 in the winter and just 4,000 in the milder summer months.