Member-only story

An Early History Of Arctic Expeditions 1871 1912

Nathaniel Hawthorne

·12.4k Followers· Follow

Published in In The Shadow Of The Pole: An Early History Of Arctic Expeditions 1871 1912

5 min read

557 View Claps

80 Respond

Save

Listen

A Group Of Explorers Stand On The Deck Of A Ship In The Arctic. They Are Dressed In Heavy Clothing And Have Thick Beards. The Ship Is Surrounded By Icebergs. In The Shadow Of The Pole: An Early History Of Arctic Expeditions 1871 1912

The Arctic is a vast and unforgiving region, but it has also been a source of fascination for centuries. Explorers have long been drawn to the Arctic, hoping to discover new lands, find new resources, and test their limits.

In the Shadow of the Pole: An Early History of Arctic Expeditions, 1871-1912

by S.L. Osborne

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4293 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	304 pages

The early history of Arctic expeditions is full of stories of bravery, adventure, and tragedy. Explorers faced extreme cold, hunger, and danger, but they also made important discoveries that helped to shape our understanding of the world.

In this article, we will take a look at some of the most important Arctic expeditions that took place between 1871 and 1912. These expeditions helped to open up the Arctic to exploration and paved the way for future scientific research.

The Polaris Expedition (1871-1873)

The Polaris Expedition was the first American expedition to the Arctic. It was led by Charles Francis Hall, a former whaler who had become fascinated by the Arctic. Hall's goal was to reach the North Pole, but his expedition ended in tragedy.

The Polaris became trapped in pack ice and drifted for months. The crew suffered from scurvy and other diseases, and Hall himself died of a stroke. The expedition was eventually rescued by a whaling ship, but only 19 of the 33 crew members survived.

Despite its tragic end, the Polaris Expedition made important contributions to Arctic exploration. Hall's team collected valuable scientific data, and they also discovered new lands in the Arctic Archipelago.

The Jeanette Expedition (1879-1881)

The Jeanette Expedition was another American expedition to the Arctic. It was led by George W. De Long, a naval officer who had served in the Civil War. De Long's goal was to explore the Arctic Ocean and to reach the North Pole.

The Jeanette became trapped in pack ice and drifted for two years. The crew suffered from scurvy and other diseases, and they eventually abandoned ship. De Long and his crew attempted to reach land by sled, but they all died before they could reach safety.

The Jeanette Expedition was a tragedy, but it also made important contributions to Arctic exploration. The crew collected valuable scientific data, and they also discovered new lands in the Arctic Archipelago.

The Fram Expedition (1893-1896)

The Fram Expedition was a Norwegian expedition to the Arctic. It was led by Fridtjof Nansen, a renowned Arctic explorer. Nansen's goal was to drift across the Arctic Ocean in a specially designed ship called the Fram.

The Fram became trapped in pack ice and drifted for three years. Nansen and his crew used this time to collect valuable scientific data. They also made several attempts to reach the North Pole, but they were unsuccessful.

The Fram Expedition was a success, and it helped to pave the way for future Arctic exploration. Nansen's team collected valuable scientific data, and they also proved that it was possible to drift across the Arctic Ocean in a ship.

The Discovery Expedition (1901-1904)

The Discovery Expedition was a British expedition to the Antarctic. It was led by Robert Falcon Scott, a naval officer who had served in the Royal Navy. Scott's goal was to explore the Antarctic continent and to reach the South Pole.

The Discovery became trapped in pack ice and drifted for two years. Scott and his crew used this time to collect valuable scientific data. They also made several attempts to reach the South Pole, but they were unsuccessful.

The Discovery Expedition was a success, and it helped to pave the way for future Antarctic exploration. Scott's team collected valuable scientific data, and they also proved that it was possible to drift across the Antarctic Ocean in a ship.

The Terra Nova Expedition (1910-1913)

The Terra Nova Expedition was a British expedition to the Antarctic. It was led by Robert Falcon Scott, who was returning to the Antarctic to try to reach the South Pole.

Scott and his team reached the South Pole on January 17, 1912, but they were beaten to the pole by Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian explorer. Scott and his team died on the return journey from the pole.

The Terra Nova Expedition was a tragedy, but it also made important contributions to Antarctic exploration. Scott's team collected valuable scientific data, and they also proved that it was possible to reach the South Pole.

The expeditions we have discussed in this article were just a few of the many that have been undertaken in the Arctic. These expeditions have helped to open up the Arctic to exploration and scientific research, and they have also helped to inspire us with their stories of courage and determination.

In the Shadow of the Pole: An Early History of Arctic Expeditions, 1871-1912

by S.L. Osborne

4.4 out of 5