Locating the Arctic and Antarctic Circles on the Map

Arctic Circle (66°33′39″ North)

Definition: Latitude marking the southernmost extent of the midnight sun (summer solstice) and polar night (winter solstice).

Countries/Regions Intersected:

• United States – Alaska (north of Fairbanks)
• Canada – Yukon, NWT, Nunavut, northern Quebec, Labrador
• Denmark – Greenland (southern tip below; most above)
• Finland – Lapland (Rovaniemi sits on the Circle)
• Iceland – Grímsey Island only
• Norway – Nordland, Troms, Finnmark; Svalbard entirely above
• Russia – Kola Peninsula, Arkhangelsk, Siberia, Chukotka
• Sweden – Norrbotten (Kiruna, Jokkmokk)

Oceans: Arctic Ocean, Norwegian Sea, Barents Sea, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, East Siberian Sea, Chukchi Sea, Beaufort Sea, Greenland Sea, Bering Sea.

Antarctic Circle (66°33′39″ South)

Definition: Northernmost latitude of midnight sun (Dec solstice) and polar night (June solstice) in the Southern Hemisphere.

Land/Intersections:

• Antarctica – The Circle crosses the continent's northern tip (Antarctic Peninsula, Wilkes Land, Enderby Land). Most of Antarctica lies south of it.
• Southern Ocean – The Circle runs predominantly through ocean.
• Subantarctic Islands (mostly north of the Circle, but close):
  • South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands (UK) – ~54–59°S
  • Bouvet Island (Norway) – 54°S
  • Heard & McDonald Islands (Australia) – 53°S
  • Kerguelen Islands (France) – 49°S
  • Macquarie Island (Australia) – 54°S

Note: No permanent human settlements lie on the Antarctic Circle. Research stations (e.g., Argentina's Belgrano II at 77°S) are farther south.

Visualizing on a Map

On a standard world map (Mercator), both circles appear as horizontal lines at equal distances from the equator. On a polar projection, they're concentric circles around the poles. The Arctic Circle encloses ~21M km² (land + ocean); the Antarctic Circle encloses ~20M km² (mostly ice sheet + ocean).