Main content

The Top of the World

The history of the North Pole as both a place on the map and in our imaginations. Today, it symbolises a warming planet but is still linked to exploration and mythology.

The North Pole lies at the very top of our world. Covered in a thick layer of sea ice, this uninhabitable frozen point in the Arctic Sea has fascinated us for centuries as both a physical location on a map and as a far away place in our imagination. Warmer than the South Pole, the northernmost point of the Earth鈥檚 axis sits outside of any time zone in a place where the sun rises and sets just once a year. Today, it has come to symbolise a warming planet but remains linked to exploration and mythology.

Joining Bridget Kendall to discuss the North Pole are the explorer, author and former climate scientist Felicity Aston MBE; Klaus Dodds, Professor of Geopolitics at Royal Holloway, University of London, and author of the forthcoming book The Arctic: What Everyone Needs to Know; and Michael Bravo, Senior Lecturer at the University of Cambridge, Head of Circumpolar History and Public Policy Research at the Scott Polar Research Institute and author of a new book called North Pole.

Photo: Robert Peary's North Pole Expedition. (Getty Images)

Available now

41 minutes

Last on

Mon 4 Feb 2019 04:06GMT

Broadcasts

  • Thu 31 Jan 2019 09:06GMT
  • Fri 1 Feb 2019 00:06GMT
  • Sat 2 Feb 2019 14:06GMT
  • Sun 3 Feb 2019 15:06GMT
  • Mon 4 Feb 2019 04:06GMT

Featured in...

Do you think political or business leaders need to be charismatic? Or do you prefer highly competent but somewhat stern people?

Do you think political or business leaders need to be charismatic? Or do you prefer highly competent but somewhat stern people?

We鈥檇 love to hear your views on charm and charisma for a future Forum.

Podcast