Antarctica's Significant Events

Captain James Cook and his crew were the first to cross the Antarctic circle

Jan 17, 1773

Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen became the first person to spot land on the continent.

Mar 25, 1820

John Davis became arguably the first man to land on the continent

Mar 18, 1821

The Weddell Sea was named when John Weddell went the furthest South of Antarctica

Mar 25, 1823

Sir James Clark Ross searched for the Magnetic South Pole

Mar 25, 1841

Antarctic explorer Robert Falcolm Scott was born

Mar 25, 1868

Antarctic explorer Roald Amundsen was born

Jul 6, 1872

Antarctic explorer Ernest Henry Shackleton was born

Feb 17, 1874

Robert, Ernest and three other many were unsuccessful in being the first to reach the South Pole

Mar 25, 1902

The race to the South Pole! - Roald Amundsen won

Mar 25, 1911

Robert died on his way back.

Mar 25, 1912

Ernest and his crew sailed from England to Antarctica, just before World War I starts.

Aug 8, 1914

The Endurance left the icy island, South Georgia, and reached the Antarctic Penninsula.

Dec 5, 1914

The Endurance was frozen in the ice on the edge of Weddell sea.

Mar 25, 1915

The Endurance got crushed by the ice and they abandoned their ship.

Oct 27, 1915

The 28 men walk for less than 2 miles, then they set up an Ocean Camp on the drifting ice.

Oct 30, 1915

The Enduance sank.

Nov 21, 1915

Ernest Shackleton leads a rescue effort to South Georgia Island to get help for his men.

Mar 25, 1916

Ernest returns home in England

Mar 25, 1917

Ernest Shackleton died on South Georgia Island, at age 47, going back to Antarctica to visit.

Jan 5, 1922

Roald Amundsen died

Mar 25, 1928

The Antarctic Treaty was signed by many nations

Mar 25, 1961

Scientists found out that the ozone layer in the stratosphere was being polluted.

Mar 25, 1980

Small holes formed in the ozone layer over Antarctica.

Mar 25, 1997

Ernest's crew reached the Weddell sea.

Dec 8, 2014