Lake North Pole

Pond near the North Pole that is currently the northernmost in the world

85°N 5°W / 85°N 5°W / 85; -5^[1]Average depthApprox. 40 cm (16 in)FrozenAnnuallyIslandsNone

Lake North Pole, also known as The North Pool, is a small, shallow pond near the North Pole, and is currently the northernmost pond in the world. It came into existence in 2002, occurring each year, then freezing over in the winter.^[2]

The pond, which is approximately one foot deep, is composed almost entirely of fresh water melted from the ice beneath.^[1]^[3]

A web camera is stationed beside the pond to monitor changes. It was built by the Polar Science Center.^[1]

On July 26, 2013, the depth was estimated to be approximately 40 cm.^[1]

Members of the scientific community are not alarmed by such bodies of water, stating that they occur widely, and often refer to them as "melt ponds".^[1]^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "NPEO Web Cameras". Psc.apl.washington.edu. Retrieved 2013-07-29.
^ "Melting Ice Forms Lake at North Pole, researchers worried". Austrian Tribune. Archived from the original on 2014-07-28. Retrieved 2013-07-29.
^ "Ice Near the North Pole Has Melted. Again. - Eric Levenson". The Atlantic Wire. 2013-07-24. Archived from the original on 2013-07-27. Retrieved 2013-07-29.
^ David Clark Scott (July 27, 2013). "Debunker: New lake on North Pole sea ice? Not really". Alaska Dispatch. Archived from the original on 2013-08-02. Retrieved 2013-07-29.

External links

January 21, 2013 Executive Summary of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Arctic Report Card discussing melting ice.
Webcam and images at the North Pole Environmental Observatory website

North Pole drifting ice stations

Soviet Union