Visiting the Arctic Circle: adventure awaits
The Arctic Circle is the end of the world in a way. The most northern of the five circles of latitude above the equator, the Arctic Circle is the home of the midnight sun and the polar night, where the sun shines all day in the summer and not at all in the winter. So, can you visit the most-northern place on Earth?
Absolutely you can. There are many different places that you can travel to in order to reach the Arctic Circle. Like Antarctica, the Arctic Circle is a marine habitat, with a wealth of different wildlife. It’s moving all of the time, however, mainly because of climate change. It has been explored by humans for more than a thousand years, but wasn’t really conquered until the early twentieth century. It is not hospitable for humans, but that does not mean that you can’t visit if you want to.
Fairbanks
The easiest way to pay a visit to the Arctic Circle is to go to Alaska. Fairbanks is considered the gateway to the Arctic. You can easily reach the Arctic Circle by going through Fairbanks, even taking a tour to the Arctic from there. You can fly into Fairbanks, and you will find that it is less expensive than if you tried to get to the Arctic from the mainland directly. You can also drive from Fairbanks and take yourself on a tour of the Arctic on the Alaskan side of things. You take Dalton Highway from Fairbanks and head up to Prudhoe Bay.
Canada
Since Canada has more land that touches the Arctic Circle than the State of Alaska does, you might have better luck reaching your goal by going through America’s northern neighbor. In fact, of all the choices, Canada might be the best route. The Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Yukon all go up to the Arctic Circle. The area was settled by the First Nations people an estimated 25,000 years ago.
Norway
If you are looking for a different place to hit up the Arctic Circle, you can head over to Scandinavia. Norway is especially easy to visit in order to reach the most northerly place in the world. You can reach the Arctic Circle about 50 miles north of Moi Rana, which is also 43 miles south of Fauske. The Svalbard Archipelago, which includes the island of Spitsbergen, is perhaps the best and most accessible area to visit. It is best to reach the area by boat, but there are some places that you can visit by dog sledding or cross-country skiing.
Greenland
Greenland is fantastic because you can see the Aurora Borealis from anywhere there, except in the summer with the midnight sun. The capital of Greenland is Nuuk, which is really a playground for outdoorsmen. Between the kayaking, fishing, and hiking, there is a lot of tourist activities to partake in when you visit Greenland. In a way, Greenland is one of the best-prepared places along the Arctic Circle to actually pay a visit to.
Russia
You can visit the Arctic Circle through Russia as well, but the environment has not always been the most hospitable to visitors. There are about two million people who live along the Arctic Circle in Russia, making it the most-inhabited area at these latitudes. You can take a train there easily and take in the landscape in comfort.
Wherever you decide to go to visit the Arctic Circle you are sure to have the experience of a lifetime. The wildlife and environment around the Arctic Circle are one-of-a-kind.
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