Arctic vs. Antarctica: A Traveler’s Guide [Infographic]

Arctic vs. Antarctica, the eternal dilemma

Sunrises vs. sunsets, coffee vs. tea, Wonder Woman vs. Superman. 

The world contains a virtually limitless supply of things to compare, contrast, juxtapose, differentiate. 

But few things so perfectly express the polarities of our planet as its literal magnetic poles – or more generally, the Arctic (north) vs. Antarctica (south). 

Admittedly, there are numerous similarities between these two regions, and at first glance they’re easily confused for one another. 

Even so, Earth’s icy bookends are not only vastly different in physical composition, they’re also highly distinct in terms of the travel-tourism opportunities they offer.

Knowing which place to visit, then, can be a mind-boggling conundrum. In fact, it’s sometimes enough to turn off potential polar travelers altogether.

But it doesn’t have to be.

If you’re currently wringing your hands about whether your first (or next) polar voyage should be Arctic or Antarctic, keep reading. What you learn might mean the difference between a trip that ends in a disappointed fizzle or an incurable case of pure polar fever.