The Arctic may be considered a single region, but it can be defined and delineated in many different ways. This theme introduces the different ways the Arctic can be and has been defined by different scholars and organizations, and the many ways that the 'Arctic boundary' can be drawn on the map.

The physical and natural world that comprises the Arctic. This theme includes important interactions in northern climate systems, and particularly the importance of snow and ice. Relations between the environment are ecosystems shown, for example through distrubutions of flora and fauna.

The Arctic environment of thas for centuries provided northerners with the necessities of life, and later drew interest from outside the region from those who sought to exploit its tremendous resources. This theme highlights how human societies interact with the northern environment to develop and exploit natural resources for both subsistence and industrial activities. This also includes the physical, communications, and technical infrastructure that supports these activities.

The Arctic has been a homeland for the region's indigenous peoples, but has also in more recent times been settled by other cultures and integrated into the territory of the eight Arctic states. This theme explores how the demographics and distribution of people and peoples across the North.

Northern societies have organized into units for political organization and economic activity. While the North is rich in resources, it has often been exploited by non-northerners, while northerners struggle to achieve sustainable local economies. This theme includes economic relationships between north and south, and measures of subsistence, human capital, and participation in different sectors of the economy.