The [North pole|North] and [South pole|South] [pole]s are the [point]s on the [Earth] where the [axis] of [rotation] [intersect]s the [surface] of the [planet]. They are the furthest points from the [equator].

Because they are on the axis of rotation, the [spin] that gives the rest of the [world] [day] and [night] does not have the same [effect] at the poles. The [orbit], not the spin, causes the sun to move up and down in the [sky]. The [sun] goes [around] and around in the sky at the [North] pole in [Summer], and around in the sky at the [South] pole in [Winter]. The [equinox] is the only time the sun can be seen from [both] poles, and then, it is on the [horizon]. All the rest of the time, the sun [shine]s on one pole and the other is in [darkness]. It reaches it's maximum [altitude] of about 23.5 degrees above the horizon at the [solstice], the same as the angle between the [equator] and the [ecliptic]. The poles are [cold] because the sun never gets very [high], so the [sunlight] (and [radiant] [heat] from the sun) is spread more [thin]ly over a larger [area].

[Latitude] is an [angular] measure of the distance between a point and the [equator], [colatitude] is an angular measure of the distance between a point and the poles. The poles are at 90 degrees latitude, 0 degrees colatitude. The Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn are at 23.5 degrees latitude, (90 - 23.5) degrees = 66.5 degrees colatitude. The equator is 0 degrees latitude, 90 degrees colatitude.

The poles are the two places on the Earth where there is no [longitude].

poles (place)