Topical Factfiles - A Brief History of Antarctic Exploration and Discovery

A Brief History of Antarctic Exploration and Discovery

1911 -14

Douglas Mawson set out to survey a large area of the Antarctic interior and coastline. Mawson’s expedition is most remembered for the traumas of the three-man sledging party as Mawson’s companions died and Mawson suffered vitamin A poisoning as he consumed his dogs when his rations ran out. (No-one was aware at this time that a dog’s liver contains an enormous amount of vitamin A and that it was possible to die from consuming too much of this vitamin).

A brief history of antarctic exploration

1914 -16

Sir Ernest Shackleton attempted the first crossing of Antarctica. Before reaching his intended start-point, the Endurance was trapped in pack ice by 19th January 1915. Endurance finally sank in November of that year, with pack ice so thick they were unable to drag the 3 lifeboats and supplies to water. In April 1916 they finally launched the boats and reached Elephant Island 6 days later. Shackleton then set off in the largest boat with 5 companions, reaching South Georgia 16 days later. All of Shackleton’s men left on Elephant Island were rescued by Shackleton onboard the Chilean vessel Yelcho on the 30th August 1916.

A brief history of antarctic exploration