POLAR REGIONS

Antarctic Exploration

The Siege of the South Pole T he British wanted to be the first at the South Pole. They sent an expedition commanded by a young naval lieutenant called Robert Falcon Scott. Scott attempted to sledge to the Pole in 1902. The first stage was across the Ross Ice Shelf, known then as the Great Ice Barrier. Then he had to cross a mountain chain to reach the inland ice plateau. No one knew what lay beyond. Scott with Ernest Shackleton and Edward Wilson (see page 37) sledded to 82° 16’S. Their food ran low and Shackleton was so ill from scurvy that Scott feared for his life. They turned back. The Plateau Shackleton returned in 1908. He took just 29 days to pass the earlier record by using ponies to pull the sleds. Climbing a mountain a week later he looked down on the largest glacier ever seen. It flowed from the inland plateau down into the Barrier and it was the way to the Pole. On the plateau, Shackleton had to turn back on January 7, 1909, just 111 miles (180 km) from the Pole. They had been eating half-rations for days and could go no further.

S cott and Amundsen took different routes to the South Pole.

H uts were built to withstand Antarctic weather. During winter explorers’ equipment was prepared.

S cott took Siberian ponies for his expedition. They needed exercising during the winter.

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