Antarctica vacation 1

Antarctica

By Ironted

  • Captain James Cook crosses the Antarctic circle

    In January, Captain 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.

  • Captain Thaddeus Bellingshausen, first to cross Antarctic circle since Cook

    Captain Thaddeus Bellingshausen a Russian naval officer in the Vostok and Mirny circumnavigates the Antarctic, first to cross the Antarctic circle since Cook.
    He made the first sighting of the continent, reaching 69° 21'S, 2° 14'W, describing an "icefield covered with small hillocks." on Jan 27th 1820.

  • 1st known landing on Antarctica

    1st known landing on Antarctica by American sealer Captain John Davis.

  • James Weddell discovers Antarctic sea

    British whaler James Weddell discovers the sea named after him and then reaches the most southerly point at that time 74° 15' S. No one else manages to penetrate the Weddell sea again for 80 years.

  • British, French and American expeditions establish the status of Antarctica as a continent

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

  • Adrien de Gerlache becomes trapped in pack ice off the Antarctic Peninsula

    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 as their ship drifts with the ice

  • Carsten Borchgrevink leads a British expedition

    Carsten Borchgrevink leads a British expedition that landed men at Cape Adare and built huts. This was the first time that anyone had wintered on the Antarctic landmass. Believed by some historians to be the first confirmed landing on continental Antarctica.

  • Captain Scott leads his first Antarctic expedition

    Captain Scott, 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.

  • Ernest Shackleton leads expedition

    Ernest Shackleton leads expedition to.Within 156km / 97mls of the South Pole, turns back after supplies are exhausted.

  • Norwegian Roald Amundsen leads a five man expedition

    Norwegian Roald Amundsen leads a five man expedition that reaches the South Pole for the first time

  • Britain's Captain Robert Falcon Scott reaches the South Pole

    Britain's Captain Robert Falcon Scott reaches the South Pole to discover he has been beaten by Amundsen. All of the five man team (Scott, Bowers, Evans, Oates and Wilson), are to perish on the return journey only 11 miles from supply depot.

  • Ernest Shackleton returns to Antarctica

    Ernest Shackleton returns to Antarctica in an attempt to complete the first crossing of the continent.

  • The beginning of large-scale factory ship whaling in the Ross Sea.

    The beginning of large-scale factory ship whaling in the Ross Sea.

  • Sir George Wilkins and Carl Benjamin Eielson are the first to fly over Antarctica

    Australian Sir George Wilkins and American Carl Benjamin Eielson are the first to fly over Antarctica around the peninsula region

  • Richard Byrd become the first to fly over the South Pole.

    Richard Byrd and three other US explorers become the first to fly over the South Pole.

  • Lincoln Ellsworth flies across the continent.

    Lincoln Ellsworth flies across the continent.
    Caroline Mikkelsen, Norway, is the first woman to set foot on Antarctica when she accompanies her husband, a whaling captain.

  • US sends the largest ever expedition of over to Antarctica

    Operation Highjump US sends the largest ever expedition of over 4700 men, 13 ships and 23 airplanes to Antarctica. Most of the coast is photographed for map making.

  • international Geophysical Year (IGY) 12 nations establish over 60 stations in Antarctica.

    International Geophysical Year (IGY) 12 nations establish over 60 stations in Antarctica. The beginning of international cooperation in Antarctica and the start of the process by which Antarctica becomes "non-national".
    The first successful land crossing via the South Poleis led by British geologist Vivian Fuchs with New Zealander Edmund Hillary leading the back up party, over 40 years after Shackleton's expedition set out with the same aim.

  • Antarctic treaty comes into effect

    Antarctic treaty comes into effect

  • Boerge Ousland (Norway) becomes first person to cross Antarctica unsupported.

    Boerge Ousland (Norway) becomes first person to cross Antarctica unsupported. Taking 64 days from Berkner Island to Scott base towing a 180kg (400lb) sled and using skis and a sail.

  • International Polar Year

    International Polar Year - Actually Spans two years in order that researchers get the opportunity to work in both polar regions or work summer and winter if they wish.