Exploring Antarctica Captain Robert Roald Amundsen Falcon Scott Ernest Shackelton

The Arctic, North Pole The Native People of the Arctic had no interest in traveling north over empty ice.  But explorers were fascinated by the challenge to reach the North Pole, 90० N. The American Frederick Cook claimed to have reached it on April 21, 1908, but he was unable to prove it.  On April 6, 1909, the team of US Navy officer Robert Peary and explorer Matthew Henson reached the North Pole--or so they believed.  They traveled on dog-sleds with Inuit guides. But Peary was not an expert navigator. Peary returned a hero, and he made sure Henson--an African-American-- was ignored.  Experts now believe they came within sixty miles of the Pole. The first proven trip to the North Pole was completed in 1968--on snowmobiles.

Northwest Passage British traders had to sail south around Africa to reach China.  Starting around 1600, they tried sailing northwest over the top of the world to reach China.  But they ran into land--or ice! Henry Hudson was looking for the Northwest Passage when he froze to death in Canada in 1611.  As the climate becomes warmer, is now possible in summer for large ships to sail through the islands of Arctic Canada and on to Asia.

Antarctica British Captain James Cook and his crew were the first to humans to see Antarctica.   They sailed around the continent in 1773. The first person to explore Antarctica on foot was a seal hunter from the US, John Davis, in 1821.

Roald Amundsen A Norwegian polar explorer, Amundsen was the first to reach the South Pole. While exploring the Arctic region in 1900, he learned from Native People how to use sled dogs, skis, and clothing made from animal skins. His ship the Fram (Forward) arrived in Antarctica in January 1911. The journey across the ice was thoroughly planned. His team of six men and 16 dogs reached the South Pole on December 14, 1911. Amundsen died in 1928 on an Arctic rescue. Roald Amundsen of Norway Became the first to reach the South Pole.

Captain Robert Falcon Scott, Royal Navy A British Naval officer, Scott led two Antarctic expeditions. In 1901, the ship Discovery brought an inexperienced crew to the frozen south. Scott was snobby, and scornful of sled dogs and skis. The miserable Discovery crew made it to within 500 miles of the South Pole. Scott’s second journey aboard the Terra Nova set sail in 1911. Scott was aware that the Norwegian Amundsen was on his way to the South Pole, and the British Navy Captain determined to claim the Pole for king and country. A group of five trekkers reached the South Pole on January 7, 1912—and found Amundsen’s tent and flag. On the return trek, Scott and the trekkers died of starvation and exhaustion, one by one, with Scott being the last to die. Scott became a national hero. Recent studies have revealed his poor planning and inflexibility. Captain Robert Falcon Scott of Britain made two Antarctic expeditions to the South Pole in 1901 and 1911. During the Return trip in 1911, Scott and his crew died of starvation and exhaustion.

Ernest Shackleton After Amundsen’s triumph, the British sailor Shackleton, who had been an early crewmate of Scott, set a new challenge for his voyage on the Endurance in 1914: to trek across Antarctica. As it sailed towards the main polar ice cap, the Endurance became stuck in the ice, was crushed by moving icebergs, and sank. Shackleton and the crew unloaded the ship before the disaster, and they camped on an iceberg for 500 days, through the Antarctic winter and into the next year. The captain and four sailors set out in a lifeboat and sailed for 15 days, then trekked 36 hours, to reach help. All crew members were rescued. The survival of the Endurance crew is credited to the captain’s astonishing resourcefulness, but Shackleton did not receive a hero’s welcome in 1917. His country was preoccupied with the War, and he was indirectly criticized for shirking his duty. Recent studies have recognized the greatness of his achievement and the skill and spirit of his crew. He drifted through later life and died in 1922.

Exit Ticket Write sentences that describes Antarctica’s geography, environment, and challenges. 2. Write sentences that explains the contributions of Roald Amundsen, Captain Robert Scott and Ernest Shackelton to exploration in Antarctica.