What the North Pole is Really Like
With all of the holiday magic surrounding the North Pole, it's easy to forget that it’s actually a real place where people live. Well, sort of.
Photo: Explore Fairbanks
The actual North Pole, or northern axis, of Earth is not claimed by any country, and does not have any permanent residents (other than Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the elves, of course). But, there is a city called North Pole in Alaska, fifteen minutes south of Fairbanks, that boasts about 2,200 residents. You may have seen a few of them on TikTok.
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♬ Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Michael Bublé
The city was named North Pole in 1949 by a development company with hopes of attracting a toy manufacturer that could advertise products as being made in North Pole. While a toy factory never materialized, the goal of the city became to be a place where the spirit of Christmas could be felt all year long.
If you visit North Pole, Alaska, you will see festive street signs with names like Santa Claus Lane, Snowman Lane, Kris Kringle, Mistletoe, Holiday Road, Saint Nicholas Drive, North Star Drive, Blitzen, and Donnor. There is also a Christmas-themed style to buildings all over the city, and street lights are striped like candy canes.
Every winter, North Pole has a huge Winter Festival to kick off the season. There is a tree lighting, fireworks, ice carving, and so much more. There are also live reindeer at the official Santa Claus house all year round.
If you’re thinking of visiting North Pole, Alaska, be sure to bundle up because the temperature has gone as low as -65 degrees Fahrenheit! It is also one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights.
If you’re looking for more information on the North Pole, visit their website here.