The New Student's Reference Work/Antarctic Exploration

Antarctic Exploration. Since the notable expedition in 1840, to the South Polar Seas, of Captain James Ross and Dr. (Sir Joseph) Hooker in the Erebus and Terror, there have been several researches in the region. In 1901–4, Captain R. F. Scott penetrated by sledges the interior of Victoria Land, and carried the British flag to 82° 17' S. Other expeditions embrace those of the German Antarctic Expedition (1901–03); the Swedish Expedition in the Antarctic, which was lost; and the Scottish-National Antarctic Expedition (1902–04) in the Scotia. A notable expedition was that of Lieutenant Shackleford, who sailed from England in Aug., 1907, and reached latitude 88° 23', Jan. 9, 1909. It remained for Roald Amundsen to win the long-sought prize. Sailing from Norway in 1910, he wintered in Whales Bay, and in Oct., 1911, started with a dog and sledge outfit for the south pole. Climbing the ice barrier to the great polar plateau and struggling over the great polar plain, he reached the pole Dec. 14–17, 1911.