Why is North Pole not a continent?

Question

In China, Europe and most English speaking countries there are 7 recognised continents.

Africa

Antarctica

Asia

Australisia

Europe

North America

South America

None of these cover the North Pole.

Why not, as far as I know Antarctica doesnt have anything special?

Answer 1

Because it's not actually land, it's an ice sheet that floats on the sea.

Answer 2

The North Pole is actually under the sea - the Arctic Ocean - which is covered by thick ice. Unlike Antarctica (at the South Pole) - which is a continental landmass covered in ice. Don't forget that the North geographic pole and the North magnetic pole are two different things and are separated by quite a large distance.

Geologically speaking, the part of the oceanic crust underlying this part of the Arctic Ocean is connected to the North American continental plate.

Answer 3

antarctica is an actual land mass. if you look at a map it is highlited as a land mass. the north is just floating ice, so it is not considered as a continent.

Answer 4

i think its because the Antarctic has land where as the artic doesnt its just frozen water

Answer 5

It just happened that way.

Other than Earth's rotation there is no geographical criterion for a place to be called a pole. Because it was a pole the sea there is fairly frozen.

Answer 6

As others say... no land at north pole, so no continent.

Answer 7

good question

Answer 8

Antarctica is an actual landmass covered in ice and snow.

However, there's no actual land on the North Pole -- it's just a large floating mass.  In fact, decades ago, there was a submarine the actually went under the North Pole.

Answer 9

That's because there is no landmass at the North Pole - it's all ice.

Answer 10

OK you people the North Pole Does have land!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!... That's the South Pole that has no land!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!... North Pole isn't a continet because continents need a number of people and the North Pole has no people but the South Pole has lots of people because a lot of research goes on down there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! More to study down in the South Pole!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 11

Because The North Pole is a big iceberg.

Answer 12

Below the ice of the north pole there is an ocean, which is called the Arctic ocean and a continent is an area of land and there is no land at the north pole. whereas Antarctica is an area of land.

Answer 13

A continent is a land msss.  The north pole is a point in the Artic Ocean.

Answer 14

There is no land, only ice on the North Pole. Believe it or not, Under the ice in Antarctica there is land.

Answer 15

That is because the North Pole isn't located on land.  It is on ice in the Arctic Ocean.  

Antarctica is actually land beneath the ice.

Answer 16

Because there is NO continent in the north pole, while there is one in the south pole.

The north pole is an ocean, it is a bit special ocean since it is frozen (in surface, about 4meters only) around the north pole, but in summer a big part of the arctic ocean is not having ice, and is just a normal ocean (a bit cold though).

it minimal extend:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:NASA_...

Answer 17

all the continents you mentioned are all land masses where as the north pole is just made up of ice and snow

Answer 18

cuz it aint land its just ice??? or maybe thats the south pole... im probably talking out my **** here... sorry