How are the Arctic and Antarctic circles alike in relationship to the Equator and the poles?

Answer 1

The Arctic and Antarctic Circles are each the same distance from their respective poles. Depending on the nearness of the poles, periods of continuous day or night vary from one day to six months at locations inside the circles. The circles are imaginary parallels of latitude on the surface of the earth at 66°30' south and north of their respective poles. They mark the southern and northern limits of the areas in which the sun does or does not rise and set on the winter and summer solstices.

Answer 2

Both the Antarctic and Arctic circles are home to life that has adapted to extreme cold; one of the greatest differences between land in the Arctic and Antarctic circles is that land in the Arctic is essentially land covered in ice and snow, with small patches of grass and soil, as well as low-lying vegetation and animals adapted to life in burrows and bushes, while land in the Antarctic circle is comprised of mainly ice- animals there rely on fish and smaller animals for food.

Answer 3

The Arctic and Antarctic Circles are lines of latitude where the revolution of the earth about its axis touchs a line that is perpendicular to the plane of the earths orbit around the sun.

Another way to say this is that if you are standing on one of the circles at noon at the winter solstice, with you, the sun, and the pole in alignment, the sun will be on your horizon.

Its also true that, since the north and south pole are furthest from the sun, that the climate is very cold inside the circles.

Answer 4

The Arctic Circle and the Antarctic Circle are both found at 66° 33′ 39″ North and South Latitude respectively.

The north and south poles, respectively are at 90 degrees. The Equator is at 0 degrees.

So both polar circles are equi-distant from the Equator and from each pole.


Both polar circles define the area on Earth north of which or south of which, respectively, there is at least one 24-hour period with no sunrise or no sunset. Between them there is one sunrise and one sunset each 24-hour period.