The Arctic is the northernmost area of the earth, centered on the North Pole. It generally includes the Arctic Ocean, the northern reaches of Canada, Alaska, Russia, and Norway, and most of Greenland, Iceland, and Svalbard. Ice sheets and permanent snow cover regions where average monthly temperatures remain below 0°C (32°F) all year. Tundra, which flourishes during the short summer season, covers areas where temperatures are between 0°C and 10°C (32°-50°F) for at least one month.

Arctic Council - CAFF - Arctic Circle o.s.frv.

The 8 countries that make up the Arctic Council are:

Alaska, Canada, Greenland (Denmark), Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia.