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350 BCE
350 BC- A lucky guess!
It was the ancient Greeks who came up with the idea of Antarctica first.They already knew about Arktos -The Bear (Arctic), from the constellation the great bear and decided that in order to balance the world, there would be a cold Southern landmass that was the same but the opposite "Ant - Arktos" - opposite The Bear. They never actually went there, it was just a lucky guess! -
1773- A useless place...
1773
In January, Captain James Cook crossed the Antarctic Circle and went around Antarctica's waters, though he didn't sight land, rock is seen in icebergs, showing that a southern continent exists. He stated that the world would make no benefit from that useless place -
1819-21- The next crosser.
Captain Thaddeus Bellingshausen, a Russian naval officer in the Vostok and Mirny went around Antarctica, he was the first to cross the Antarctic circle since Cook. -
1821-The first landing(?).
First known landing on continental Antarctica by American sealer Captain John Davis, though this is not agreed by all historians. -
1840s-It's a continent!!!
Separate British, French and American expeditions confirm that Antarctica is a continent, after floating along an infinite coastline. -
1898-A freezing winter.
Adrien de Gerlache and the crew of the "Belgica" became trapped in packed ice off the Antarctic Peninsula, in the first scientific expedition to the continent. They were the first to survive an Antarctic winter as their ship drifted with the ice. -
1899-Sleeping over!
Carsten Borchgrevink leads a British expedition that landed men at Cape Adare and they built huts. This was the first time that anyone had spent a long time on the Antarctic landmass. -
1901-Turning back.
Captain Scott, UK, leads his first Antarctic expedition to try to reach the South Pole. They are forced to turn back two months later, having reached 82 degrees south, suffering from snow blindness. -
1907 - 1909
Ernest Shackleton went on an expedition to within 156km / 97mls of the South Pole and turned back after supplies ran out. -
1909-Aussie Aussie!!!
Australian Douglas Mawson reached the South Magnetic Pole. -
1911-Roald Amundsen
Norwegian Roald Amundsen leads a five man expedition that reaches the South Pole for the first time. -
1912-
Britain's Captain Robert Falcon Scott reached the South Pole to discover he had been beaten by Amundsen. All of the five man team perished on the return journey only 11 miles from the supply depot. Bodies weren't discovered until November. -
1915-Shackleton
Ernest Shackleton returned to Antarctica in an attempt to complete the first crossing of the continent. The goal is not attained, but one of the greatest adventures of all time follows. Their ship is crushed in the sea ice and a small party sets out for South Georgia and the whaling station. The party is eventually rescued in 1917.
