The lure of discovery and adventure has long attracted hardy souls to the North and South Poles. For more than a century, using dogsleds, animal skins, and wooden ships, explorers tried to reach the top and bottom of the Earth. Their sometimes-deadly treks became international legends. With today's modern methods, exploration of these vast regions continues. Inside, meet the brave people who first heard the call of the ice, as well as the modern experts who strive to add to those early discoveries. Ice, ice, and more ice: That's what most people think of the areas at the top and bottom of the world. But the Arctic and Antarctic are rapidly becoming the focus of world attention. Their role in climate change, their potential for energy exploration, and their place as home to amazing wildlife—to say nothing of their place in global politics—means that there has never been a better time for EXPLORING THE POLAR REGIONS TODAY. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities, and expand their viewpoints through our content rich nonfiction books. Words to Understand shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced color type in that chapter, so that readers are able to reference back to the definitions, building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Text-Dependent Questions are placed at the end of each title referring back to subjects covered within. They challenge the reader's comprehension of the material they have just read, while sending the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects are provided at the end of each title as well and give readers suggestions for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. Educational Videos are offered in chapters through the use of a QR code, that, when scanned, takes the student to an online video showing a moment in history, a speech, or an instructional video. This gives the readers additional content to supplement the text. A Series Glossary of Key Terms is included in the back matter containing terminology used throughout the series. Words found here broaden the reader's knowledge and understanding of terms used in this field.