poles

Poles is a term with multiple uses across geography, physics, engineering, and mathematics. In general, a pole is a long, slender rod used as a support, anchor, or axis.

Geographic poles are the points where Earth's rotation axis intersects the surface. The North Pole lies in the Arctic Ocean at about 90°N, the South Pole on Antarctica at about 90°S. They are defined by rotation, not by magnetism, and their exact locations shift only slowly over geophysical timescales.

Magnetic poles are where the Earth's magnetic field is vertical. The north and south magnetic poles move as the geodynamo changes. A compass points to the magnetic north, which differs from the geographic North Pole, and magnetic declination varies by location and time.

Pole structures include utility poles and flagpoles. Utility poles support overhead power lines and telecommunications, and may be wood, steel, or concrete. They bear crossarms, insulators, transformers, and other hardware.

Other common poles are tent poles, ski poles, and trekking poles—rigid rods used to provide support, balance, and propulsion in various activities.

In mathematics, a pole is a type of singularity where a complex function becomes unbounded. Poles are classified by order and are central to residue calculus in complex analysis.

Poles (capitalized) can also refer to the people of Poland.