TC Expedition 2002
Vol. 2, No. 2                                                                                          FALL-WINTER
EXPEDITION 2003
THE NORTH POLE ~ 2003
 
The North Geographic Pole lies in the center of the Arctic Ocean, a vast sea that is perpetually covered by floating ice. Since the ice pack is constantly in motion, moved by wind and currents, there is no means to mark permanently the location of the North Pole. GPS now is employed to determine precise location.
Nevertheless, the North Pole is a well-visited spot. Adventurers still try to reach the pole by surface travel, aircraft regularly land on the ice in the vicinity of the pole, icebreakers carrying shiploads of tourists plow through the ice to reach the pole each summer, and even an occasional submarine surfaces at the North Pole.
Two years ago (2000), British adventurer David Hempleman-Adams in the balloon Britannic Challenge established one of the last remaining north polar firsts when he flew from Longyearbyen, Svalbard to the North Pole and, as a result of finding favorable winds, was able to return to near his starting point in Svalbard. But future plans call for a new record to be set when submersibles go the surface of the North Pole 14,500 under the polar ice pack, a location touted as the "real" North Pole.
90º NORTH ~ short articles
Who "owns" the North Pole?
 
Who was first at the North Pole?
For a section on early polar exploration including record Farthest Norths and Who Was First at the North Pole?
click here
2003 Expeditions and Tours
 
April/May  THREE HOURS AT THE NORTH POLE. Fly from Longyearbyen, Svalbard to 89ºN on an Antonov 74, and via helicopter to the North Pole for a three-hour stay. Details,
click here.
 
August/September  THE NORTH POLE. Travel onboard a Russian nuclear-powered ice-breaker Yamal to the North Pole. Details from Quark Expeditions.
 
 
Additional expeditions and tours for the 2003 season will be added as they become known. Please check back often for more details . . .
Note to Expedition Leaders and Tour Operators: if you would like to have your 2003 north polar regions expedition or tour listed, please write to polarflight@arcticmail.com with details.
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