Polar exploration is the exploration of the Arctic in the north and Antarctica in the south. It became especially important during the 1800s and early 1900s. Explorers traveled into regions covered with ice and snow.

Roald Amundsen reached the South Pole in 1911, while Robert Peary claimed to reach the North Pole in 1909. These journeys involved freezing temperatures, long periods of darkness, and dangerous conditions. Explorers used sleds, ships, and later aircraft to travel across ice and sea.

Polar exploration is recorded in journals, maps, and photographs. It is studied in history and geography as part of exploration of extreme environments.