14th of December
Historical
Antarctic Pictures and Events
Roald Amundsen, Norwegian South Pole Expedition on the ship Fram, 1910 - 1912.
1911 - Roald Amundsen, Olav Bjaaland, Hilmer Hanssen, Sverre Hassel and Oscar Wisting are the first to reach the South Pole.
-
"I have never known any man to be placed in such a diametrically opposite position
to the goal of his desires as I was at that moment."
- *Amundsen.
They travelled out from the pole in all directions to ensure as far as possible that they had reached it, Scott would confirm this 5 weeks later.
*Amundsen had initially intended to be the first to reach the North Pole but had been beaten by Cook and Peary who both separately had claimed to have done so in 1908 and 1909 respectively. Ironically Cook's claim was widely rejected and Peary's is highly disputed and controversial.
Douglas Mawson, Australasian Antarctic Expedition on the ship Aurora, 1911 - 1914.
1912 - Belgrave Ninnis, one of a 3 man sledging party, falls down a crevasse with 6 dogs, and a sledge with most of the food and the main tent, he is never seen again.
- "For
three hours we called unceasingly but no answering sound came
back." - Mawson.
Ninnis center in photo.
