Alert

Alert is a permanently staffed research and weather station in Qikiqtaaluk Region, positioned about 817 kilometers (508 miles) from the North Pole. The station sits at an elevation of 30 meters (98 feet) and houses roughly 62 people working in one of the most remote inhabited locations on Earth.

The station opened on April 9, 1950, to establish military presence and weather monitoring in the northernmost part of North America. Since then it has served as an important base for tracking Arctic conditions.

The people who live here are mostly military staff and scientists working on climate research and atmospheric monitoring projects. Their daily life centers on teamwork in small groups that must adapt to isolation and harsh conditions.

Access is only possible by aircraft, with all supply flights carefully planned due to extreme weather and isolation. Visits require advance permission and are limited to specific research or military purposes.

During winter months the sun never rises and in summer it never sets, fundamentally changing how people organize their daily routines. The station holds the record as the northernmost permanently inhabited settlement in the world.

Location: Qikiqtaaluk Region

Inception: April 9, 1950

Elevation above the sea: 30.48 m

GPS coordinates: 82.49902,-62.35244

Latest update: December 12, 2025 16:42