Antarctic Explorers

By homework999

  • James Cook circumnavigates Antarctica

    James Cook crosses the Antarctic circle and circumnavigates Antarctica, though he doesn't sight land, deposits of rock seen in icebergs showed that a southern continent exists. His comment - "I make bold to declare that the world will derive no benefit from it".

  • Captain John Davis first known landing on Antarctica

    1st known landing on continental Antarctica by American sealer Captain John Davis, though this is not acknowledged by all historians. In the winter of 1821, for the first time ever a party of 11 men spent a winter in Antarctica. Their ship had been driven offshore and did not return to pick them up again. They were rescued the following summer.

  • The first scientific expedition

    Adrien de Gerlache and the crew of the "Belgica" become trapped in pack ice off the Antarctic Peninsula in the first scientific expedition to the continent. They become the first to survive an Antarctic winter (involuntarily!) as their ship drifts with the ice (they didn't enjoy it).

  • Frst Antarctic expedition to try to reach the South Pole

    Captain Scott, from the UK leads his first Antarctic expedition to try to reach the South Pole, with Ernest Shackleton and Edward Wilson. They are forced to turn back two months later having reached 82 degrees south, suffering from snow blindness and scurvy.

  • Shackleton tries to reach South Pole again

    1907 - 1909
    Shackleton leads expedition to within 156km / 97mls of the South Pole, turns back after supplies are exhausted.

  • Roald Amundsen first to make it to the south pole

    When Roald Amundsen made it to the south pole in 1911 he left behind equipment in a small tent to make his load lighter for the return journey.

  • Shackleton attempts to complete first crossing of Antarctica

    Shackleton returns 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.

  • Antarctica becomes a continent

    Separate British, French and American expeditions establish the status of Antarctica as a continent after sailing along continuous coastline.