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James Cook
In January, captain James Cook crossed the Antarctic circle and circumnavigated Antarctica, even though he doesn't sight any land, he saw some rock in the icebergs. This proved that there is a Southern continent existence. -
Thaddeus Bellingshausen
Captain Thaddeus Bellingshausen, a Russian naval officer in the Vostok and Mirny circumnavigated the Antarctic. He made the first sighting of the continent after James Cook. -
Captain John Davis
In February, there was the first known landing on Antartica by American sealer captain John Davis. Captain John Davis and his crew were the first people ever to spend a winter in Antartica. -
James Weddell
James Weddell, a British whaler discovered a sea named after him, the Weddell sea. -
James Clark Ross
In 1840 British navel officer and scientist James Clark Ross takes two ships, the Erebus and the Terror near the coast until he came to a high ice barrier what is now called the Ross Ice shelf. He also discovered an active volcano what is called Erebus named after his ship. -
Captain Robert Scott
Captain Scott, UK, leads his first Antarctic Expedition to try to reach the South Pole with Ernest Shackleton and Edward Wilson. They were forced to turn back two months later suffering from snow blindness and scurvy. -
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Ernest Shackleton
Shackleton leads expedition to within 156 km of the South Pole then turns back after supplies are short. -
Douglas Mawson
Australian, Douglas Mawson reaches the South Magnetic Pole. -
Roald Amundsen
Norwegian Roald Amundsen leads a five man expedition that reaches the South Pole for the first time. -
Captain Robert Scott
On the 18th January, Britain's Capatin Robert Falcon Scott reaches the South Pole to discover he had been beaten by Amundsen. -
Douglas Mawson
In December, Douglas Mawson begins his trek across George V Land back to his base at Commonwealth Bay. -
Ernest Shackleton
In October, 1915, Shackleton returns to Antarctica in an attempt to complete the first crossing of the continent. Their ship was 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. -
First Flight
The first person to fly over Antarctica around the peninsula region was the Australian Sir George Wilkins and American Earl Benjamin Eielson. -
Flight about South Pole
Richard. E. Byrd and three others from the United States of America become the first to fly over the South Pole. -
First Woman
The first woman to set foot on Antarctica is Caroline Mikkelsen from Norway, when she accompanied her husband who was a whaling captain.
Lincoln Ellworth from the United States of America flies across the continent. -
Operation Highjump
United States of America sends the largest ever expedition of over 4700 men, 13 ships and 23 aeroplanes to Antarctica. It was called Opeartion Highjump. Most of the coast was photographed for map making. -
US Aircraft Landing
US aircraft lands at South Pole. They are the first people since Scott and his team in 1912. -
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International Geophysical Year (IGY)
The International Geophysical Year begins a new era. Twelve nations establish over 60 stations in Antarctica.The beginning of international cooperation to make Antarctica 'non-national'.
The first successful land crossing via the South Pole is led by British geologist, Vivian Fuchs with New Zealander, Edmund Hill leading the back up party, over 40 years after Shackleton's expedition set out with the same aim, -
Antarctic Treaty
The Antarctic Treaty comes into effect. -
Unsupported crossing
The first person to cross Antarctica unsupported was Borge Ousland taking him 64 days. -
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International Polar Year
The International Polar Year spans two years to give researchers the opportunity to work in both polar regions, or work Summer and Winter if the wish.
