# Does anyone claim the North Pole? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 18, 2000, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-claim-the-north-pole/46257 "2000-12-18T23:39:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![blank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a4c791/32.png) [@blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blank)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-claim-the-north-pole/46257/1 "2000-12-18T23:39:07Z")
Is it in somebody’s declared territorial boundries? What about the South Pole? My map shows lot of claimants. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-claim-the-north-pole/46257/2 "2000-12-18T23:42:35Z")
I imagine they would, if there were any land there. Last I checked, it was only ice, with ocean beneath. I am not a cartographer. ---
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-claim-the-north-pole/46257/3 "2000-12-18T23:43:20Z")
Santa Claus. Seriously… there is no “North Pole” to claim; it’s all ice, snow or water – no land. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Cynical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ee59a6/32.png) [@Mr.Cynical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Cynical)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-claim-the-north-pole/46257/4 "2000-12-18T23:47:34Z")
**stuyguy** , you ass! I was coming back to make a joke about Santa, and you beat me to it! I shall now perish, unfulfilled. ---
**Author:** ![Gregor\_Samsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@Gregor\_Samsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gregor_Samsa)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-claim-the-north-pole/46257/5 "2000-12-18T23:54:29Z")
It depends a little on how you define “North Pole,” however, the [magnetic](http://www.geolab.nrcan.gc.ca/geomag/e_nmpole.html) north pole is in Canada. But it looks like it’s pulling out of there pretty fast. ---
**Author:** ![Rodd\_Hill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3ab097/32.png) [@Rodd\_Hill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodd_Hill)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-claim-the-north-pole/46257/6 "2000-12-18T23:57:06Z")
It’s ours, do you hear—ours! But it seems to be drifting inexorably towards the Russians, if you look [here](http://www.geolab.nrcan.gc.ca/geomag/e_nmpole.html) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-claim-the-north-pole/46257/7 "2000-12-19T00:27:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blank \* > **Is it in somebody’s declared territorial boundries?** No. There’s no land there and it’s in international waters. > [@](#): > > \*\* > What about the South Pole? My map shows lot of claimants. \*\* There are lots of claims to Antarctica, some of them overlapping (and most of them meet at the South Pole itself). However, in practice these are not enforced, and there’s a big chunk that’s not claimed by anyone. Antarctica is pretty much devoted solely to scientific research at present, and lots of countries with no claims there operate scientific stations, the US, Russia, and India to name a few. The US operates a base at the South Pole itself, but does not claim it. Things could change if big deposits of oil or minerals (that could be exploited economically) were discovered there. ---
**Author:** ![Lego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5e925/32.png) [@Lego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lego)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-claim-the-north-pole/46257/8 "2000-12-19T20:34:32Z")
Letters to Santa Claus are addressed to North Pole, CANADA, last time I checked. But maybe only Canadian kids do that. ---
**Author:** ![peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peace)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-claim-the-north-pole/46257/9 "2000-12-19T21:50:48Z")
## At some time, a southern country (Argentina?), possibly during a period of “grandeur” claimed (or declared?) the South Pole and the adjoining land in Antarctica its territory. I think, it was between the two WW. It was a shear imperial grandeur: the place was absolutely out of reach to any country. But Joe Stalin, being who he was, promptly declared the Arctic Ocean " sovereign Soviet territory", international waters nonwithstanding. It was marked on the maps as such, with special signs in the legend which said: “```````````: marks for the Soviet Arctic sector”. The sector encompassed Arctic Ocean, following the meridians from the East and the West Soviet borders gradually merging toward the North Pole. As far as I know, this paranoid claims were never taken seriously or caused any international trouble. When the research started in Antarctica, the Soviets realized that they may lose potential resources there, as some countries claimed a sector in Antarctica, corresponding to their position on the globe. So, the Soviets promptly relinquished their claims to north waters and said that “Antarctica belonged to everyone and no one”. I think, that’s how it is now. Peace ---
**Author:** ![Short](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Short](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Short)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-claim-the-north-pole/46257/10 "2000-12-19T23:03:47Z")
As for the south pole, it is covered under The Antarctic Treaty: [http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/antarct/anttrty.htm](http://www.nsf.gov/od/opp/antarct/anttrty.htm) Which (evidentially) allows for territorial claims, but you just can’t do anything with it (no military bases, always open for science etc). Don’t know if a similar agreement exists for the N. Pole ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-claim-the-north-pole/46257/11 "2000-12-20T02:39:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lego \* > \*\*Letters to Santa Claus are addressed to North Pole, CANADA, last time I checked. But maybe only Canadian kids do that. \*\* Pshaw, every kid knows that only letters to Santa that are addressed [North Pole, Alaska](http://maps.expedia.com/pub/agent.dll?qscr=mrdr&lats1=64.76173659135554&lons1=-147.3473238751498&alts1=150&ofsx=0&ofsy=0&ntid1=28a43&plce1=&wpst1=1%C2%AEn1=2&fmap=1&zz=977279591880) get answered. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-claim-the-north-pole/46257/12 "2000-12-20T02:43:37Z")
I believe that the claimed territiories of the countries surrounding the Arctic all come to points at the North Pole. At least that’s the way Canada is drawn on my maps. So presumably the same goes for Alaska. Santa’s Polar Control Room must have a lot of interesting lines painted on the floor… ---
**Author:** ![absoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@absoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/absoul)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-claim-the-north-pole/46257/13 "2000-12-20T03:36:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rodd Hill \* > \*\*It’s ours, do you hear—ours! But it seems to be drifting inexorably towards the Russians, if you look [here](http://www.geolab.nrcan.gc.ca/geomag/e_nmpole.html) \*\* _inexorably_, my cover has worked! It’s not drifting… [maniacal laughter] It’s moving via the rubber band engines I have attached to it. [/maniacal laughter] ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-claim-the-north-pole/46257/14 "2000-12-20T04:47:55Z")
No, Santa lives in Canada; he’s even got his own postal code, assigned by Canada Post: H-zero-H-zero-H-zero. So letters are addressed to: Santa Claus North Pole Canada H0 H0 H0 ---
**Author:** ![Gordo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f19dbf/32.png) [@Gordo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordo)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-claim-the-north-pole/46257/15 "2000-12-20T12:53:09Z")
I’m Canadian. When I was a wee lad, I never addressed my Santa letters to Canada, just as I didn’t address letters to relatives in other parts of Canada with the name of the country, just the name of the province. So Santa Claus was apparently just at North Pole, H0H 0H0. Only recently (this year) have I learned that American kids address their letters to Canada (and apparently Canada Post actually has to deal with their letters!), and I realized that H0H 0H0 is in fact a Canadian postal code format. I don’t know what Europeans do (although I think I heard something about Finland somewhere – which makes very little sense). So my guess is that the North Pole isn’t officially anybody’s, but it’s generally accepted that it’s in Canada. ---
**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-claim-the-north-pole/46257/16 "2000-12-20T13:03:38Z")
Santa lives in [Lapland](http://www.santa-holidays.com/). I thought everybody knew that. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-claim-the-north-pole/46257/17 "2000-12-20T15:50:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ticker \* > \*\*Santa lives in [Lapland](http://www.santa-holidays.com/). I thought everybody knew that. \*\* I beg to differ (feel free to correct me if I’m wrong). Unfortunately I couldn’t find a map of Finland showing the boundaries between different regions, but it seems to me that Rovaniemi is on the border between the two provinces Väster- and Österbotten (to use the Swedish names) and the border to Lapland might be a bit further off to the East. However, that doesn’t matter as Santa Claus lives in the town of [Mora](http://www.santaworld.se/english/santa.htm) in the province of Dalecarlia in Sweden. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-claim-the-north-pole/46257/18 "2000-12-20T16:01:49Z")
…and we all know **Sinterklaas** , the European SuperSaint from which your poor sissy “Santa Claus” is derived, was originally from Mhyra, Turkey. As we collectively realise, Turkey is _not_ situated on or near any of the two poles, magnetic or conventional. Thus, the answer is either one of the following: [ul] [li]Turkey owns the North Pole.[/li][li]Santa Claus is completely overdressed for his original climate.[/li][/ul] Choose the answer you like best 😛 ---
**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-claim-the-north-pole/46257/19 "2000-12-20T16:04:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Floater \* > \*\*However, that doesn’t matter as Santa Claus lives in the town of [Mora](http://www.santaworld.se/english/santa.htm) in the province of Dalecarlia in Sweden. > > \*\* Hey, at least we are agreed on the continent, right? given half a chance these Americans would have us believe Bethlehem is in Pennsylvania! ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-claim-the-north-pole/46257/20 "2000-12-20T18:17:51Z")
Let’s see. Brittannica says “In latitude [Canada] extends from approximately 42º N to 83º N.” That’s 7º short of the Pole. It could be that Brittannica is part of the same anti-Canada conspiracy that’s keeping the CN Tower from being considered the world’s tallest building. But unless someone has a reference other than “Mom says that’s where Santa lives”, I’d say that the NP is not part of any country. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > **…and we all know Sinterklaas, the European SuperSaint from which your poor sissy “Santa Claus” is derived, was originally from Mhyra, Turkey.** He’s still there, Coldie. Well actually, his sarcophagus is still there. Merchants apparently ran off with his remains in the 11th century. [Grave of “Santa Claus”](http://www.findagrave.com/pictures/8167.html) Merrrrrrrry Christmas! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-claim-the-north-pole/46257.md?page=2)