The two polar regions are distinguished from the other two climatic and biomatic belts of Earth, a tropics belt near the equator, and two middle latitude regions located between the tropics and polar regions.

Climate-

Polar regions receive less intense solar radiation than the other parts of Earth because the sun's energy arrives at an oblique angle, spreading over a larger area, and also travels a longer distance through the Earth's atmosphere in which it may be absorbed, scattered or reflected, which is the same thing that causes winters to be colder than the rest of the year in temperate areas.

The axial tilt of the Earth has a major effect on climate of the polar regions. However, since the polar regions are the farthest from the equator, they receive the weakest solar radiation and are therefore generally frigid year round due to the earth's axial tilt of 23.5° not being enough to create a high maximum midday declination to sufficiently strengthen the sun's rays even in summer, except for relatively brief periods in peripheral areas near the polar circles. The large amount of ice and snow also reflects a large part of what weak sunlight the Polar regions receive, contributing to the cold. Polar regions are characterized by extremely cold temperatures, heavy glaciation wherever there is sufficient precipitation to form permanent ice, and extreme variations in daylight hours, with twenty-four hours of daylight in summer, and complete darkness at mid-winter.

See also: Antarctica

The southern polar region has no permanent human habitation.^[1] McMurdo Station is the largest research station in Antarctica, run by the United States. Other notable stations include Palmer Station and Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station (United States), Esperanza Base and Marambio Base (Argentina), Scott Base (New Zealand), and Vostok Station (Russia).

While there are no indigenous human cultures, there is a complex ecosystem, especially along Antarctica's coastal zones. Coastal upwelling provides abundant nutrients which feeds krill, a type of marine crustacea, which in turn feeds a complex of living creatures from penguins to blue whales.

Very few species are able to live on mountains; the climate on a mountain is typically cold and windy, and because the air pressure is lower at high altitudes, there is less oxygen available.

* Bighorn Sheep

* Golden Eagle

* L’Hoest’s Monkey

* Mountain Goat

* Mountain Gorilla

* Mountain Hare

* Snow Leopard

* Takin

* Verreaux’s Eagle

* Vicuña

* White-Tailed Ptarmigan

* Wolf
Picture courtesy Karam Khokhar

The Arctic fox preys on many small creatures such as lemmings, voles, ringed seal pups, fish, waterfowl, and seabirds. It also eats carrion, berries, seaweed, and insects and other small invertebrates. Arctic foxes form monogamous pairs during the breeding season and they stay together to raise their young in complex underground dens. Occasionally, other family members may assist in raising their young. Natural predators of the Arctic fox are golden eagles,^[10] polar bears,^[11] wolverines, red foxes, wolves, and grizzly bears.

Spring and summer in the mountains is a very short period, between late June and September, after which frosts begin and mountain ranges are covered with snow. For this reason, plants have adapted to store food, moisture and energy. Plants at higher elevations have stems or rhizomes which extend deep beneath the soil’s surface. These stems allow food storage so plants can begin immediate growth in the spring, without having to wait for the soil to thaw to provide water and nutrients.
Picture courtesy Aaina Chadha

Mountain habitats have been largely protected because of their inaccessibility. As people have moved into the mountains to live, for recreation and to obtain valuable resources such as timber, mountain ecosystems around the world have been subject to degradation and destruction.

Animals you’ll find in Antarctica include:

Insects in the Arctic habitat include: