Arctic Circle

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Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics

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decline in minimum Arctic sea ice extent

sunlight strikes parts of Earth differently

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Saint Lucia Day. Young girl wears Lucia crown (tinsel halo) with candles. Holds Saint Lucia Day currant laced saffron buns (lussekatter or Lucia's cats). Observed December 13 honor virgin martyr Santa Lucia (St. Lucy). Luciadagen, Christmas, Sweden

7 Winter Solstice Celebrations From Around the World

Colorful winter sunset

What's the Difference Between a Solstice and an Equinox?

Scenic landscape of apple tree on field with seasons changing from Summer to Winter, solstice

It’s Winter! It’s Summer!

Flower. Fruit tree. Cherry. Cherry tree. Cherry blossom. Spring. Close-up of cherry blossoms in bloom.

The Perils of an Early Spring

1 July 2002: The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite reveals a massive solar eruption more than 30 times the Earth's diameter. The eruption formed when a loop of a magnetic field over the surface of the Sun trapped hot gas.

6 Questions About the Sun Answered

Discover

An ancient egyptian hieroglyphic painted carving showing the falcon headed god Horus seated on a throne and holding a golden fly whisk. Before him are the Pharoah Seti and the goddess Isis. Interior wall of the temple to Osiris at Abydos, Egypt.

11 Egyptian Gods and Goddesses

Close up of praying mantis walking on stone ground against a blurred background in Japan

6 Animals That Eat Their Mates

San Francisco, California/USA-1/18/20: Womens March at Civic Center marching with signs of political protest regarding equality also embracing 2020 presidential candidates and celebrating equality

How Does the U.S. Government Define the Difference Between a Protest and a Riot?

airplane in flight (plane, aircraft, flying)

7 Puzzling Plane Disappearances

Paul Revere. "The bloody massacre perpetrated in King Street Boston on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Regt.," engraved by Paul Revere. Boston Massacre.

There’s a Riot Goin’ On: Riots in U.S. History (Part One)

African Americans demonstrating for voting rights in front of the White House as police and others watch, March 12, 1965. One sign reads, "We demand the right to vote everywhere." Voting Rights Act, civil rights.

Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement

Statue of Nostradamus

Nostradamus and His Prophecies

Arctic Circle: Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Jun 11, 2025

News •

Skipton cellist visits Arctic to record sounds of climate change • June 9, 2025, 1:27 AM ET (BBC)

Hertfordshire golfer waits for golf marathon record confirmation • May 29, 2025, 7:25 AM ET (BBC)

British sailor set for solo loop of Arctic Circle • May 23, 2025, 5:28 AM ET (BBC)

Photos

decline in minimum Arctic sea ice extent

sunlight strikes parts of Earth differently

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Topics

Equator Tropic of Capricorn Tropic of Cancer 38th parallel Antarctic Circle seventeenth parallel