Permafrost is defined as soil that maintains a temperature at or below freezing for two complete summers and an intervening winter. Actual “frost” doesn’t need to be present. Also the extent of permafrost in the Northern Hemisphere varies dramatically. It depends on many factors including topography, seasonal weather patterns, and permanent climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are also different ways to categorize permafrost depending on coverage and extent: continuous, discontinuous, sporadic and isolated. Thus it’s a bit of a misnomer to tag any spot as the southernmost point of permafrost in the hemisphere. The answer constantly changes. That won\u2019t stop me from offering broad, sweeping generalizations, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I will focus solely on the northern hemisphere. Obviously there\u2019s lots of permafrost down under too. However, the boundary falls primarily within the Southern Ocean and it\u2019s not nearly as exciting as a boundary crossing nations. I will try to find something equally fascinating for our readers from New Zealand and Australia in a future article (suggestions appreciated!<\/em>). Nonetheless I\u2019ll remain north of the equator today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two countries — vastly apart both culturally and geographically — lay claim to the distinction: Mongolia and Canada. I don\u2019t think either country is wrong in their assertion but it depends on how one chooses to describe “permafrost.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nMongolia<\/h2>\n\n\n\n