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Discovery & Exploration
Factfile |
 Discovery & Exploration |
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Race for the Poles |
At the turn of the 20th century, neither of the Poles had been conquered, so there was much personal glory to be had by being `the first' at either Pole. Plus, there was growing scientific interest in Antarctica. In 1895, the 6th International Geographical Congress in London had announced:
`The exploration of the Antarctic Regions is the greatest piece of geographical exploration still to be undertaken'.
So for the next 20 years, different nations including Australia, France and Britain carried out a number of explorations to Antarctica in the name of scientific discovery. Involved with these expeditions were Robert Falcon Scott who led Britain's first expedition in 1904-7 (Scott was to later die while attempting to be the first person to reach the South Pole) and the Australian geologist Douglas Mawson and his party, who became the first people to reach the Magnetic South Pole (1909).
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