One might think that the northern and southern extremes of the planet would have comparable annual temperatures. In actuality, the South Pole is much colder. This is because giant glaciers have built up on the continent of Antarctica, where the South Pole is located. The inland ice sheets of Antarctica are 8,036 feet (2,450 meters) thick on average, and this thick layer of ice keeps the South Pole about 50°F (23.6°C) colder than in the North.