The North Pole is a point in the arctic ocean that is mostly covered by a thick sheet of ice with water underneath.
Over the years, no country has been able to lay claim to the North Pole. It is said to be cold up North because the sun only rises and sets there once a year and when it does, doesn’t rise very high.
The North Pole is devoid of human existence, with the ever-moving ice, it is impossible to set up a thriving community.
Attempts have been made over time by people to travel to the North Pole, but what are the safest means to get up there, can you drive to the North Pole?
You cannot drive to the North Pole because the north pole is made up of ice and water which will be impossible to drive through. The only possible way to get to the North Pole is by plane, helicopter, or by the hauled-sled route, or by ship during June and July.
Where is the North Pole Located?
The North Pole is also known as the Terrestrial North Pole is the far north of the earth, from which point every other direction is South.
It is located in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, on water that is almost permanently covered with shifting ice. It lies about 450 miles north of Greenland.
The North Pole is at the center of the Northern Hemisphere. Wherever you turn to in the North Pole you are always facing South.
The nearest permanently inhabited place is the “Alert” in the Qikiqtaaluk Region, Canada which is located 817km from the Pole.
Can you Drive to the North Pole?
The straight answer to this will be No, but it is not impossible to drive to the North Pole as some people have been able to make it there using special vehicles.
Depending on the time of the year, you may be able to drive a long distance or short before seeing a crack in the ice.
You may not even see the ice before driving into it, worst case could be the ice cracks beneath you, either way, you’re going into the water.
The farthest some have made it to the North Pole by driving is getting to the nearest town to it which is Longyearbyen. Longyearbyen is around 650 miles from the North Pole.
Are Cars Allowed in the North Pole?
Yes, cars are allowed in the North Pole, but unfortunately, not all kinds of cars can make it through to get to the North Pole.
There are three kinds of car that has been known to make it through; Range Rover Sport, Toyota Hilux, Jeep Wrangler Polar. Every other car can probably only make it to the nearest town with solid ground.
Toyota Hilux is recorded as the first car to be driven to the North Pole by the Top Gear presenter Jeremey Clarkson was behind the wheel, and is believed to be the world’s toughest car.
Has Anyone Driven a Car in the North Pole?
Yes, some set of people has successfully driven a car in the North Pole. Although the fastest, easiest and safest way to get to the North Pole is by air, it can also be journeyed by land.
The first people to have driven a car in the North Pole are Jeremy Clarkson and James May in 2007 using the Toyota Arctic Truck Hilux that starred in Top Gear’s North Pole Special.
How to Travel to the North Pole
As reiterated earlier, you cannot drive to the North Pole because of the icy nature of the area. Even though Jeremy Clarkson drove to the North Pole with a Toyota Hilux in 2007, the best way to travel to the North Pole is by plane or helicopter, or by the hauled-sled route.
However, if you wish to travel to the North Pole in June or July, you can as well use a ship to travel there because June and July are the time of the year when the North Pole is a little warm. The ice will crack and become water so a ship can sail through it.
Moreover, it is important to note that if you wish to travel to the North Pole via Helicopter, the best month of the year to do that is in April.
All the Voyages going to the North pole starts and ends in Helsinki, Finland. From there, you can then fly by charter plane to Murmansk, in Northwest Russia to board your ship.
How Long Does It Take to Drive to the North Pole?
The length of time it takes to drive to the North Pole is largely dependent on where your starting point is. Some drive starts closer to the Pole and only takes roughly two weeks while others start a very long distance from the pole spending roughly 60 days.
For instance, the driving time from Seattle to the North Pole is 41 hours, 12 minutes. Using a travel map can help you determine how long your driving time will be based on your directions for the road trip.
One can only make an estimate because the time it takes to get there varies and could be affected by factors such as the type of car you are driving, emergency stopovers, etc.
Can You Drive to the North Pole from Canada?
Yes, it is possible to drive to the North Pole from Canada. Canada is one of the countries close to the North Pole with a distance of about 1250 miles. The drive from Canada to the North Pole takes approximately 3 days 2hrs, with a total of 4047 miles.
More Information about the North Pole You Should Know
The North Pole can be said to be in two parts; The Geographic (True) the North Pole and the Magnetic North Pole.
The two poles are not the same, the Magnetic North pole doesn’t have a fixed point as it changes over time due to changes in Earth’s core.
The True North Pole is the fixed point that references the top of the Earth and it is considered the most important of the two poles.
Animals and plants found in the North Pole are well adapted to the extreme conditions of this area. By nature, they are endowed with the necessary feature for adaptability.
Some of the animals found in the North Pole are the Iconic Polar Bear, Ringed Seals, Walrus, Minke, Humpback, Bowhead Whales, etc.
There is no landmass at the North Pole, this is one reason why it has been impossible for people to reside there and it doesn’t have a time zone which makes it very easy to lose the sense of timing.
The sun rises and sets in the Pole once a year, the North Pole experiences total darkness from early October to early March and brightness from April to September as the sun rises.
Conclusion
Just like you can’t drive close to the Hollywood sign, you cannot drive to the North Pole. It is difficult and expensive for scientists to explore the North Pole because of the absence of land to set up permanent facilities.
The temperature in the arctic is cold enough to kill if one isn’t prepared for it. Not prepared to deal with the risks? Stay away from any of the overland options.
One of the things that make the North Pole stand out is that it is not part of any nation although the surrounding country has a lay claim to some part of the ocean. It is difficult to say what country it is located in because it has a name for itself.
Over the years, races have been organized to the North Pole, there are also private guides and companies that take people on artic adventures to the North. There are no legal restrictions to traveling to the North Pole, if you have the wherewithal then you are good to go.
The North Pole is warmest in July, and by warmest we mean it is still freezing at 32 degrees. At this temperature, it is not the coldest place on Earth.