Arctic Circle Map: Which 8 Countries Reach Into the Arctic?

How this tool works

North of the Arctic Circle there is at least one day each year when the sun never sets (the midnight sun) and one when it never rises (polar night). The map draws the line at its exact astronomical position on an equal-area style world map, and the table below it lists every country the line crosses. Entry points and approximate overland lengths are computed by intersecting the line with country boundary polygons, so the figures are estimates based on simplified boundaries rather than survey values.

What you can do with it

• See the 8 national territories the circle crosses, including Russia, Canada, Greenland, and the US (Alaska)
• Compare how much Arctic frontage each country has along the line
• Use it to explain midnight sun and polar night
• Check which countries count as Arctic states

Why use it

Most maps show these lines as unlabeled dashes with no detail. If you want to know exactly which countries a line passes through, and for roughly how far, you usually end up cross-referencing several articles. This page puts the line, the country list, and the lengths in one place.

Data sources and methods

• Natural Earth (1:110m cultural vectors, public domain)

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