|
Current Casey Temperature
|
 |
EditRegion
ANTARCTIC
EXPLORERS |
|
Roald AMUNSDEN 1872-1928 |
|
 |
The most successful of polar explorers was born near Oslo in Norway. From the age of 15 he set himself on a professional career of adventure. He studied medicine but withdrew to go to sea where he worked his way up to the rank of mate. By 1910 he was established as a successful explorer. He had been a member of the first party to winter in Antarctica on the Belgica in 1898 and had been the first to travel the Northwest Passage in his ship the Gjoa in 1903-06. He planned to drift over the North Pole in Nansen's famous Fram, but news of Peary's attainment of the pole caused him to secretly change his plans and head south. |
On the 13th September
The Times of London announced that Robert Scott intended mounting
an Antarctic expedition, suddenly Amunsden found himself involved
in a race to the South Pole. 'They sped across the snow in exhilaration - eight men with six sledges and 86 dogs. it was Friday, 8 September 1911. After weeks of waiting patiently for suitable weather, Amunsden's party were finally on their way to the first depot at 80oS.' Amunsden wins the race to the
pole. |
 |
 |
At the pole, observations were made to make sure they were as close to their goal as possible. Then three men went out in different directions for 20km (12.5 miles) to make sure they had 'encircled' the actual pole. |
| Inside their tent Amunsden left a note to Scott and a letter for him to deliver to King Haakon. |  |
Later During World War I he made a lot of money from neutral shipping and built Maud to resume is Artic drift. He completed his Northeast Passage around Siberia - only second to do so. In 1921 ventured into flying he flew the airship Norge from Pittsburgh to Alaska via the North Pole. In 1928 while he was searching for survivors of an airship accident, Amunsden's airplane crashed and he disappeared without a trace. |
| . |
Reference: |
