BY LENNIE SKILTON

Polar Bears  Polar bears have black skin although their fur appears white it is actually transparent.  Polar bears are at risk from an increasing number of threats including climate change and oil and gas exploration.  Hunting isn`t the biggest threat to polar bears, it is now by far climate change.  Polar bears clean themselves by rolling in snow.

Arctic Whales  There are 17 different species of Whales in the Arctic.  Narwhal and beluga live in the Arctic all year round, and some, such as the humpback Whale or grey Whale move during summer to give birth.  Rather than teeth, Baleen Whales, have baleen (long flexible plates).  Arctic Whales are stressed by rapid climate change.  A beluga Whale can grow up to 18 feet.

Seals  There are 33 species Seal world-wide and 2 live in Britain.  Harp Seals live in the Arctic and can grow to as long as 6 feet.  They can hold their breath for 15 minutes.  They eat Shellfish and other small fish.  They have a thick layer of blubber.

The Arctic Ocean  It is the smallest of the Oceans.  It covers an area about the size of Russia.  It is partly covered in ice all through the year.  Fridtjol Nansen was the first to make a nautical crossing of the Arctic Ocean in  Countries bordering the Arctic Ocean are: Russia, Norway, Iceland, Greenland, Canada and the United States.

Climate Change  The ice pack is thinning as a result of global warming.  The melting ice could also cause sea levels to rise in the future.  Global warming is causing the world to get hotter and scientists say: we need to act now.  We can help do this by recycling and eating less meat.