北極
ほっきょく · hokkyoku · JLPT N2 · noun
North Pole
🧊 北 (north) + 極 (pole, extreme) = 北極, the north pole
極 also means extreme or ultimate, so the word names the farthest northern point on Earth. Ice fits the meaning because the area is covered in frozen sea ice.
北 — two people 人 back-to-back
北 originally pictured two people standing back-to-back, meaning 'back' or 'to turn one's back on.' Because people in ancient China faced south, their backs pointed north, so 北 came to mean 'north.' The original 'back' sense was later written with 背 (adding 月/flesh).