Polar climate

Imagine a place so cold that summer feels like a chilly spring day, or doesn't even happen at all! That's a polar climate. These super chilly spots cover more than 20% of our planet, mostly way up north and way down south, near the tippy-top and bottom of the Earth.

Because they're so far from the warm middle part of the world, they get very little sunshine. Sometimes, the sun shines for months, and other times, it hides away for just as long!

In places with a polar climate, you won't find tall trees like in a forest. Instead, you'll see wide-open lands called tundras, covered in moss and low bushes, or giant sheets of ice called glaciers. It's like a giant, frozen playground!

The average temperature is always below 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit), which is cooler than your classroom on a normal day. It's so cold that ice can stay frozen all year round, even when the sun is out for super long summer days.

Even though it's freezing, amazing animals live here! Think of fluffy polar bears, speedy penguins, and seals that love to swim in icy waters. These animals have special ways to stay warm, like thick fur or blubber.

The days can be super short in winter, with hardly any sunlight, and super long in summer, with the sun shining all day and night! It’s a land of extremes, where nature has found a way to thrive in the cold.

Understanding polar climates helps us learn about our whole planet. These icy regions are like Earth's giant refrigerators, helping to keep things cool. Scientists study them to see how our weather is changing.

Even though people don't live in huge cities there, some brave explorers and researchers visit these amazing, frozen places to learn more about our incredible world and the creatures that call it home.