Antarctic Circle Map
The Antarctic Circle (66.5606° S) rings the coldest continent on Earth. See the line on an interactive map, visit four research stations via clickable pins, and learn how the Antarctic Treaty keeps this entire continent devoted to science.
Research stations on the map
- 1McMurdo Station (United States) — The largest Antarctic station — the logistics hub on Ross Island.
- 2Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station (United States) — Sits at the geographic South Pole, rebuilt on stilts against drifting snow.
- 3Vostok Station (Russia) — Recorded −89.2 °C in July 1983, the coldest temperature ever measured on Earth.
- 4Concordia Station (France / Italy) — Year-round research on the high polar plateau, 3,233 m above sea level.
Seasons in reverse
Everything about the Arctic Circle applies here in mirror image — with the calendar flipped. South of 66.5606° S, the Sun stays up for 24 hours around the December solstice (Antarctica's midsummer) and never rises around the June solstice (midwinter). At the South Pole itself, one "day" lasts six months, followed by six months of night.
Unlike the Arctic, which is an ocean ringed by continents, Antarctica is a continent ringed by ocean — and far colder. The South Pole sits at 2,835 m elevation on a thick ice sheet, which is why Vostok's −89.2 °C record (July 1983) stands as the lowest temperature ever directly measured on Earth.
The Antarctic Treaty
Signed in 1959 and in force since 1961, the Antarctic Treaty reserves the continent for peaceful purposes and scientific research. Military activity is banned, and the territorial claims of seven nations are held in abeyance — neither recognised nor denied — while the treaty lasts. It now has 29 consultative (voting) parties and is widely regarded as one of the most successful international agreements ever signed.
No one lives in Antarctica permanently: roughly 1,000 researchers overwinter, rising to about 4,000 in the summer season. The stations pinned on the map above — McMurdo, Amundsen-Scott, Vostok and Concordia — are among the hubs that make that science possible.
How to use this tool
Follow the line around Antarctica — the only circle on this page that crosses no country at all.
Four research stations are pinned: click each for its operator and claim to fame.
How 1959 diplomacy froze territorial claims, and why Antarctic summer is December.
What people use this tool for
A one-page visual for why Antarctica, not the Arctic, holds the cold records.
The key facts of the 1959 treaty in plain language.
Where the major stations sit relative to the circle and the pole.
How it's calculated
The circle's latitude mirrors the Arctic Circle at 90° minus Earth's axial tilt. Station coordinates are published positions of year-round research stations (McMurdo, Amundsen-Scott, Vostok, Concordia). Treaty facts follow the 1959 Antarctic Treaty text and its entry into force in 1961.
Related tools and resources
Frequently asked questions
What is the Antarctic Circle?
The parallel at 66.5606° S — south of it, the Sun can stay above the horizon for 24 hours around December, and below it around June.
Which countries does it cross?
None — unlike every other line on this site, the Antarctic Circle passes only over ocean and Antarctica itself.
What is the coldest temperature ever recorded in Antarctica?
−89.2 °C at Russia's Vostok Station in July 1983 — the lowest directly measured anywhere on Earth.
What does the Antarctic Treaty do?
Signed in 1959, in force since 1961: it reserves Antarctica for peaceful scientific use, bans military activity, and holds territorial claims in abeyance.
Does anyone live in Antarctica?
No permanent residents — about 1,000 people overwinter, rising to roughly 4,000 in the summer research season.
Why are the seasons reversed?
Seasons come from Earth's tilt, not distance from the Sun. When the Southern Hemisphere leans toward the Sun in December, Antarctica gets its summer.