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What do we mean when we say “North Pole”? We usually mean the Geographical North Pole, but there are other North Poles.

Geographic North Pole

The Geographic North Pole, also known as True North, is approximately the northern point at which the Earth's axis of rotation meets the surface. Geographic North defines latitude 90° North. In whichever direction you travel from here, you are always heading South.

Magnetic North Pole

Compasses point to the Magnetic North Pole. It is the northern point at which the geomagnetic field points vertically, i.e. the dip is 90°. Here, the needle of a compass points straight down. Its location is contantly changing. In 2003 it was 78° 18' N, 104° W, near Ellef Ringnes Island, one of the Queen Elizabeth Islands, in Canada. During the 20th century, the magnetic pole has moved 1100 km, and since 1970 its rate of motion has accelerated from 9 kilometers per year to 41 km/a. If it maintains its present speed and direction it will reach Siberia in about 50 years, but it is expected to veer from its present course and slow down.

Geomagnetic North Pole

The Geomagnetic North Pole is the northern pole of the Earth's geomagnetic field's dipole moment. Its present location is 78° 30' N, 69° W, near Thule in Greenland. The Earth is a giant magnet, like a bar magnet. The Geomagnetic North and South Poles are the ends of that magnet.

North Pole of Inaccessibility

The Northern Pole of Inaccessibility is defined as the point in the Arctic farthest from any coastline, and is at 84° 03’ N, 174° 51’ W.

A Cultural North Pole

In Christmas stories, the North Pole is sometimes regarded as the place where the mythical Santa Claus lives, and where his workshop is located. We have verified on this trip that this cultural North Pole does not exist (or at least, does not coincide with the geographical North Pole.)