By | July 16 2011 8:54 AM

The Arctic is a region located at the northern-most part of the Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean and all or parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. The Arctic region consists of a vast, ice-covered ocean, surrounded by treeless permafrost. The area can be defined as north of the Arctic Circle (66° 33'N), the approximate limit of the midnight sun and the polar night. Alternatively, it can be defined as the region where the average temperature for the warmest month (July) is below 10 °C (50 °F); the northernmost tree line roughly follows the isotherm at the boundary of this region. 

The moon rises over Arctic ice

Photo: REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

The moon rises over Arctic ice near the 2011 Applied Physics Laboratory Ice Station north of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska March 18, 2011. Picture taken March 18.

Wind patterns are left in the ice pack

Photo: REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Wind patterns are left in the ice pack that covers the Arctic Ocean north of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska March 18, 2011.

Wind patterns are left in the ice pack

Photo: REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Wind patterns are left in the ice pack that covers the Arctic Ocean north of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska March 18, 2011.

Ice crystals are seen

Photo: REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Ice crystals are seen at the 2011 Applied Physics Laboratory Ice Station north of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, March 18, 2011. Picture taken March 18, 2011.

The sun sets over Arctic ice

Photo: REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

The sun sets over Arctic ice near the 2011 Applied Physics Laboratory Ice Station north of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska in this March 18, 2011 picture.