[Arctic animals]Shutterstock * THE ARCTIC — THE NORTHERNMOST PART OF THE EARTH — COVERS MILLIONS OF MILES OF FROZEN LANDSCAPE. * SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES ARE OFTEN THE NORM. * DESPITE ITS HARSH CONDITIONS, THE ARCTIC IS HOME TO SOME AMAZINGLY RESILIENT BEARS, CATS, WOLVES, WEASELS, AND OTHER LAND MAMMALS. * EVEN MARINE LIFE SUCH AS BEARDED SEALS AND NARWHALS HAVE ADAPTED TO THE OFTEN INHOSPITABLE CONDITIONS. * THE BIRDS OF THIS NORTHERN LAND CAN PULL OFF AMAZINGLY LONG YEARLY MIGRATIONS JUST TO SURVIVE. ------------------------- Imagine a land where the sun only rises and sets only once a year. A night stretches on for six months. Temperatures rarely rise above the sub-zero range, and trees can’t even grow in the inhospitable terrain. This land is the Arctic, and it is home to some of the world’s toughest, strangest, and most beautiful animals. Often defined as the region above the Arctic Circle, the Arctic is the northernmost area of the world, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center. A frozen landscape around the North Pole, the Arctic region covers about 5.5 million square miles, as noted by Arctic World. During the winter months, the average daily temperature in the Arctic region may hover around -20°C. In fact, temps as low as -50°C are not unheard of in the coldest parts of the Arctic, according to Canada’s Arctic. Despite these inhospitable conditions, however, plenty of animals manage to survive and thrive in this remote part of the earth. From tiny migratory birds to the giant polar bear, the variety of animal life in the Arctic is remarkable. And to live in such harsh conditions, these creatures have developed some unique and striking adaptations for survival. Read on to learn about some of the most tenacious animals on the planet. SNOWY OWLS Shutterstock Most owl species are active at night, but snowy owls often hunt in the daytime, according to the Defenders of Wildlife organization. This makes them diurnal, or animals that are active during the day. A capable predator, the snowy owls' diet mainly consists of lemmings — a lot of lemmings. In fact, a family of snowy owls can eat up to 1,500 lemmings before the fledglings fly off, as explained by World of Owls. These birds are fast and tough. Snowy owls can fly fast enough to knock over a grown human, as noted by National Geographic. POLAR BEARS Reuters/Mathieu Belanger Polar bears and the Arctic region go together perfectly. In fact, the word arctic is derived from the ancient Greek word for bear, _arktos_, according to Polar Bears International. This is why you’ll only find polar bears in the Arctic region, but not the Antarctic (which translates to "opposite of the bear"). Their sense of smell is super impressive. A polar bear can smell a seal underneath water and snow from nearly a half mile away, according to the World Wildlife Fund For Nature. Even if the seal is beneath three feet of snow, the bear can still sniff out its presence. BEARDED SEALS Shutterstock Bearded seals smash their heads through thin ice to create breathing holes, as noted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. These seals can sing. Well, sort of; male bearded seals perform underwater vocalizations in order to attract females during mating season, according to Wildscreen Arkive. If this bearded seal call YouTube video from Christianne White is any indication, the sound is eerie and hauntingly beautiful. SEE THE REST OF THE STORY AT BUSINESS INSIDER
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