Which ocean surrounds the North Pole?

The Arctic Ocean surrounds the North Pole.

The Arctic Ocean is the smallest and shallowest of the world’s five recognized oceans. It is centered on the North Pole and is largely surrounded by Eurasia and North America. Its marginal seas include the Barents, Beaufort, Chukchi, Kara, Laptev, and East Siberian seas.

Unlike the geographic South Pole, which lies on a continental ice sheet, the North Pole lies on sea ice floating over ocean water. That ice changes seasonally and has declined substantially in recent decades, especially during the late-summer minimum. The ocean remains important for climate because bright sea ice reflects solar energy and because cold, dense water contributes to global ocean circulation.

The Arctic Ocean connects with the Atlantic through the Greenland and Norwegian seas and with the Pacific through the narrow Bering Strait. Several countries border its waters, including Canada, Denmark through Greenland, Norway, Russia, and the United States. Defining the Arctic Ocean’s exact boundaries can vary slightly among geographic authorities.