Can We Colonize the North Pole?

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Colonizing the North Pole presents significant challenges due to its nature as an ocean covered by drifting pack ice, rather than solid land. The discussion highlights that there is no substantial landmass to colonize, making the idea impractical. While some suggest that establishing a base on ice or using icebreakers could be a possibility, the harsh living conditions and the lack of resources raise questions about the desirability of such a venture. Historical references, like Fletcher's Ice Island, illustrate that temporary research stations have existed, but these do not equate to permanent colonization. Additionally, the potential for future opportunities in an ice-free Arctic is noted, with some advocating for ocean-going communities that could adapt to changing conditions. Overall, the consensus leans towards skepticism regarding the feasibility and rationale behind colonizing the North Pole.
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Would it be possible to colonize the North Pole? I was just wondering.
 
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Responses have to be longer than three characters, so take this first sentence as excess verbiage. The simple, three character answer is

No.
 
I say yes.

I don't see why anyone would want to, but if you really did, I could make you a plan.
 
I don't see why not, so long as you were a cold water fish. The North Pole is ocean.
The South Pole is land.
 
What, exactly, are you going to colonize?

Hint: There is no land. There is only drifting pack ice.
 
Dremmer said:
Would it be possible to colonize the North Pole? I was just wondering.

Been there, done that. The north pole, along with the south pole, Britain, France, Southern Italy&Sicily, Russia, Canada belong to US! :devil:
 
More interesting is not the answer but the reason. Why would anyone want to live on the ocean above the north pole?

Even if you could wall off all the entrances to the artic ocean and drained it and had some "dry land" it would not be a very nice place to live.
 
D H said:
What, exactly, are you going to colonize?

Hint: There is no land. There is only drifting pack ice.

Anchor in an icebreaker of arbitrary size and shape and supply it year long. I didn't say it'd be cheap, but it's still cheaper than other places some people dream of colonizing.
 
Although not a colony, this is certainly interesting.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fletcher%27s_Ice_Island"
Fletcher's Ice Island or T-3 was an iceberg discovered by U.S. Air Force Colonel Joseph O. Fletcher. Between 1952 and 1978 it was used as a manned scientific research station that included huts, a power plant, and a runway for wheeled aircraft. The iceberg was a thick tabular sheet of glacial ice that drifted throughout the central Arctic Ocean in a clockwise direction
 
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D H said:
What, exactly, are you going to colonize?
Various groups have proposed ship based ocean going communities. A colony of such, establishing itself in the Arctic, might be well placed to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by an ice free ocean that will be available in a couple of decades.
 

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