I NF I N I TE WONDERS
Scientists first explored the deep sea beneath the North Pole
in 2007. Today, most Arctic waters remain unexplored. Near
Alaska, the Bering Sea is home to some of the largest un-
derwater canyons on Earth. Few people have glimpsed the
amazing animals in these deep-water canyons. Antarctica is
the largest ice mass on the planet. In 2015, scientists drilled
through nearly half a mile (0.8 km) of ice on the Ross Ice
Shelf. In the near-freezing water below, a remote-controlled
camera spotted fish!
The polar seas are home to abundant creatures, from tiny
plankton
to huge marine
mammals
. Life underwater is more
rich and diverse than anyone had ever imagined. At the heart
of this
ecosystem
are tiny shrimp-like krill. These animals are
vital to the polar ecosystems. They are food for everything
from fish and squid to seals and whales.
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ice shelf
ice sheet
sea ice
