The North Pole grades 1+

Captain J. L. Nathorn, U.S. Navy:

(1)“Well, kids, I hope you have enjoyed your voyage beneath the Arctic icecap. (2) As you have seen, we have cramped quarters here in the submarine. (3)The crew lives in the sub for up to three months at a time. (4) We use white light for day and red light for night. (5) That way, we don’t disturb our biological clock.

(6)“Ah – hear that rumbling and crackling? (7)That the sub’s conning tower starting up through the ice.  (8)It is 13 feet thick. (9)The sea ice has lost one-third of its volume in the past 18 years due to global warming.  (10)Scientists have been using lasers and radio waves to measure it.

Map showing that the northern sea ice is shrinking at an alarming rate.

(11)If both icecaps melted, the sea would rise 230 feet. (12)Almost every coastal city in the world would be underwater.

(13 Already the expanse of ice has shrunk by 36% in the past 30 years. (14)Still, it’s 1.88 million square miles in size. (15)That’s half the size of the United States.”

*

(16)“Okay, everyone outside! (17)See the pole?

(18) “And look who’s here! (19) Give us some wisdom, Santa.”

(20) “Hi kids. (21)I’m sorry Rudolph couldn’t come. (22)As you can see, my workshop isn’t here either. (23)The sea ice shifts so much that my workshop constantly moves. (24)In fact, a Russian science camp built here at the North Pole way back in 1937 floated 2350 kilometers – about 1,450 miles – in just nine months! (25) So I’m afraid you will have to wait until my workshop floats back before you can see Rudolph and the other reindeer. (26) Okay?

27)“Before you go back aboard the submarine, let me tell you a story. (28)Did you know an African-American man was probably one of the first people to reach the North Pole? (29)His name was Matthew Henson.

(30)He had a job selling hats in a store. (31)A big man named Robert Edwin Peary came in to buy a hat. (32)The two men started talking. (33)They became friends instantly.

(34)Peary asked Henson if Henson wanted to go on adventures with him way, way up in the Arctic. (35)They would use dog sleds to go where no one could rescue them if they got into trouble. (36)They might die of starvation or freeze to death or fall through the ice and drown. (37)They might even get eaten by a polar bear!

(38)“Do you know what Matthew Henson said? (39)He said, ‘Great idea!’ (40)And off he went with Mr. Peary.

(41)“Isn’t that incredible? (42)Mr. Henson must have loved the thrill of danger!

 (43)”It took the two men many tries, but finally they reached the North Pole. (44)Four Inuit went with them. (45)The Inuit’s names were Ootah, Seeglo, Egingwah, and Ooqueah. (46)The Inuit are the Native people of Greenland and northern Canada.

(47)”But remember, I said Peary and Hensen and the four Native men were probably the first people at the North Pole.

(48)“That’s because there was another man on the expedition. (49)He knew how to work all the instruments that said exactly where they were. (50)But he got frightened and went back home.

(51)“There was another problem too. (52)Peary did not always tell the truth. (53)He alone checked the instruments. (54)He told the others they all had reached the North Pole. (55)Everyone believed him! (56)After all, he was the group’s leader.

(57)“Most historians now think Peary lied about reaching the North Pole. (58)He certainly got close. (59)But most people who study the history of the Arctic do not think he made it.

(60)“Now … you better get back into your submarine. (61)Time to head back to civilization. (62)Wave goodbye to everyone in the rest of the world!

(63)“By the way, why do we say the North Pole is at ‘the top of the world’? (64)And we say the South Pole is at the bottom?

(65)“The answer will amaze you!”