Amundsen South Pole Route

Amundsen south pole route. The first expedition to reach the geographic south pole was led by the norwegian explorer roald amundsen he and four others arrived at the pole on 14 december 1911 five weeks ahead of a british party led by robert falcon scott as part of the terra nova expedition amundsen and his team returned safely to their base and later heard that scott and his four companions had died on their return. This approach is good for showing the parties locations. Speaking from a visit to antarctica scott s grandson told bbc news that his scientific legacy should be better appreciated. But while scott and his four companions died on the return journey amundsen s party managed to reach the geographic south pole first and subsequently return to their base camp at.

Roald amundsen s south pole route map. The depots marked at 80 81 and 82 were laid in the first season feb march 1911. Over a hundred years later there is still debate about the events how well the two men were prepared how they conducted themselves what role luck had to play and not least of their legacies. Mcmurdo south pole highway also known as the south pole traverse is estimated to be about 995 miles long.

The south pole traverse also called the mcmurdo south pole highway is an approximately 995 mile long 1 601 km compacted snow road in antarctica that links the united states s mcmurdo station on the coast to the amundsen scott south pole station it was constructed by leveling snow and filling in crevasses but is not paved. The attainment of the south pole by roald amundsen ahead of robert scott has frequently described amundsen as the winner in a race. The amundsen scott south pole station is a usa operated scientific research station at the south pole. Crucially in terms of the race amundsen had elected to use dog teams instead of ponies for hauling the sledge loads and he did so with utter proficiency.

Amundsen s route was more to the east while the framheim base was almost a degree to the south of scott s camp. The highway is a densely snow covered road in antarctica that connects the mcmurdo station on the coast of us to the amundsen scott south pole station. By establishing these supply banks at 80 s 81 s and 82 s amundsen hoped that his explorers wouldn t have to carry as much paraffin oil or seal meat. Flags mark its route.

Between december 1911 and january 1912 both roald amundsen leading his south pole expedition and robert falcon scott leading the terra nova expedition reached the south pole within five weeks of each other. Amundsen s route to the south pole volume 19 issue 121 d.