The Pole of Inaccessibility (POI) is a geographical concept defining the most remote location within a specified area, based on distance from a defined boundary. These points represent the greatest degree of isolation on the planet, whether deep within a massive landmass or far out in the open ocean. A POI marks a spot uniquely challenging to reach due to its sheer distance from civilization or surrounding geographical features. The designation of a POI shifts the focus from the rotational North and South Poles to where maximum geographical remoteness is achieved.
How Inaccessibility Is Measured
The calculation of a Pole of Inaccessibility is a precise mathematical exercise based on geodesic distance over the Earth’s curved surface. A POI is defined as the center of the largest possible circle that can be inscribed entirely within the geographical area without crossing its boundary. This calculation typically results in a point that is equidistant from at least three different points on the boundary, known as vertices. For continental poles, the boundary is the coastline, while for oceanic poles, it is the nearest landmass.
Modern geographic information systems (GIS) and iterative algorithms are used to find this precise point, maximizing the minimum distance to the boundary in all directions. The resulting coordinates are not always fixed, as the definition of the boundary can be ambiguous, particularly with dynamic features like shifting ice shelves or changing coastlines.
The Land-Based Poles
The two most referenced land-based Poles of Inaccessibility are found in the Earth’s polar regions, defined by their distance from the ocean coastline. The Northern Pole of Inaccessibility is situated on the Arctic Ocean pack ice, farthest from any encircling landmass. Its coordinates, approximately 85°48′N 176°09′E, place it over 1,000 kilometers from the nearest land, including Ellesmere Island.
The Arctic POI is not a fixed point on the surface, as it constantly drifts with the movement of the sea ice. The Southern Pole of Inaccessibility is located on the permanent landmass of the Antarctic continent, making it the point farthest from the Southern Ocean. Its historical location, reached by the Soviet Union, is approximately 82°06′S 54°58′E, at an altitude of over 3,700 meters on the Polar Plateau. The Soviet expedition in 1958 established a temporary research station at this calculated POI, which is often considered the definitive site due to its physical landmark.
Point Nemo: Farthest from Land
The oceanic equivalent, known as Point Nemo, is officially the Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility. Located in the South Pacific Ocean at 48°52.6′S 123°23.6′W, it is the spot farthest from any solid land. This location is defined by being equally distant from three distinct land points.
Point Nemo is 2,688 kilometers away from its three nearest land vertices: Ducie Island, Motu Nui, and Maher Island in Antarctica. Hrvoje Lukatela first calculated its coordinates in 1992. Due to this extreme isolation, the closest humans to Point Nemo are often the astronauts aboard the International Space Station, orbiting approximately 400 kilometers above.
The region is also considered a marine “dead zone” because its location within the South Pacific Gyre prevents nutrient-rich waters from reaching the surface. The name “Nemo” is Latin for “nobody,” a fitting reference to its remoteness and the fictional sea captain from Jules Verne’s novels.
Significance in Exploration and Research
Historically, Poles of Inaccessibility represented the ultimate geographical challenge for explorers seeking to conquer the Earth’s most remote corners. The 1958 Soviet expedition to the Antarctic POI, for example, symbolized a Cold War-era achievement. The temporary station left behind a bust of Vladimir Lenin as a monument, which is now largely buried under snow and preserved as an Antarctic Historic Site.
In modern times, these locations serve scientific and logistical purposes. The Antarctic POI is a valuable site for climate and glaciological research due to its elevation and extreme isolation from sea-influenced weather systems. Point Nemo’s unique remoteness has made it an intentional disposal site for decommissioned space hardware, known as the “spacecraft cemetery.” This area is chosen because its distance from shipping lanes and human habitation minimizes risk during the controlled re-entry of satellites and space stations.