Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Arctic Circle
Table of Contents
Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics
Images
Arctic regions Arctic Ocean decline in minimum Arctic sea ice extent Arctic Circle sunlight strikes parts of Earth differently
Read Next
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
Flags of the countries of the world (flagpoles).
How Many Countries Are There in the World?
Mona Lisa, oil on wood panel by Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1503-06; in the Louvre, Paris, France. 77 x 53 cm.
Why Is the Mona Lisa So Famous?
Candles Burning On Table In Church
What Is the Most Widely Practiced Religion in the World?
July, 2006, Launch of Space Shuttle Discovery STS-121. See attached for full caption information.
Will Light-Speed Space Travel Ever Be Possible?
Figure 13: A Maxim machine gun, belt-fed and water-cooled, operated by German infantrymen, World War I.
7 Deadliest Weapons in History
Artist interpretation of a Space meteoroid impact. Meteor impact. Asteroid, End of the world, danger, destruction, dinosaur extinct, Judgement Day, Planet Earth, Doomsday Predictions, comet
10 Failed Doomsday Predictions
Statue of Nostradamus
Nostradamus and His Prophecies
Arctic regions
Arctic regions The Arctic regions are centred on the North Pole.

Arctic Circle

verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/place/Arctic-Circle
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated: • Article History

News •

KCAL News Meteorologist studies climate change in the Arctic Circle • Apr. 26, 2025, 4:27 AM ET (CBS)
Lifesize herd of puppet animals begins climate action journey from Africa to Arctic Circle • Apr. 25, 2025, 7:16 AM ET (The Guardian)
'The Herds' begins its journey from central Africa to the Arctic Circle • Apr. 11, 2025, 4:51 PM ET (AP)
Arctic Ocean
1 of 3
Arctic Ocean
decline in minimum Arctic sea ice extent
2 of 3
decline in minimum Arctic sea ice extentRemote sensing has revealed the loss in Arctic sea ice extent since the late 1970s.
Arctic Circle
3 of 3
Arctic Circle World map with the Arctic Circle marked.

Arctic Circle, parallel, or line of latitude around Earth, at approximately 66°30′ N. Because of Earth’s inclination of about 23 1/2° to the vertical, it marks the southern limit of the area within which, for one day or more each year, the sun does not set (about June 21) or rise (about December 21). The length of continuous day or night increases northward from one day on the Arctic Circle to six months at the North Pole. The Antarctic Circle is the southern counterpart of the Arctic Circle, where on any given date conditions of daylight or darkness are exactly opposite.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Michele Metych.