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| Roald Amundsen (AnonymousUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons) |
TLDR: Roald Amundsen became the first person to reach the South Pole on December 14, 1911, beating British explorer Robert Falcon Scott by about a month. Amundsen's success was due to meticulous planning, superior equipment, and efficient use of sled dogs.
Roald Amundsen’s successful expedition to the South Pole in 1911 remains one of the greatest achievements in the history of exploration. Amundsen, a Norwegian explorer, originally intended to lead an expedition to the North Pole but shifted his focus to the South Pole after learning that American explorer Robert Peary had claimed the North Pole in 1909. This secret change in plans was revealed only after his team had set sail, marking the beginning of his historic journey.
Amundsen’s success was largely due to his exceptional preparation, strategic choices, and his experience with polar environments. He had previously spent time with the Inuit people during an earlier expedition in the Arctic, learning survival techniques that would later prove crucial. His decision to use sled dogs—an approach inspired by the Inuit—was a key factor in his success. The dogs were well-adapted to the extreme cold, and Amundsen carefully planned their use for transportation, even using some dogs for food as the expedition progressed. This decision gave him a significant advantage over his British competitor, Robert Falcon Scott, who relied on ponies and motor sledges, both of which struggled in the harsh Antarctic conditions.
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| Robert Falcon Scott Henry Maull (1829–1914) and John Fox (1832–1907), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons |
Amundsen and his team of four men—Olav Bjaaland, Helmer Hanssen, Sverre Hassel, and Oscar Wisting—set out from their base camp, known as "Framheim," located at the Bay of Whales on October 20, 1911. They followed a carefully planned route, avoiding the difficult terrain of the Ross Ice Shelf and taking a more direct path across the plateau to the pole. Traveling 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) in just under two months, the team reached the South Pole on December 14, 1911, planting the Norwegian flag and leaving a tent with a note to Scott, in case he arrived.
Meanwhile, Scott’s team, part of the British Antarctic Expedition, reached the pole about a month later on January 17, 1912. Upon finding Amundsen’s flag and note, Scott and his men were devastated. Unfortunately, Scott’s expedition ended in tragedy, as he and his entire team perished during their return journey due to exhaustion, cold, and lack of supplies.
Amundsen’s success is often attributed to his careful planning and reliance on traditional polar survival techniques, as well as his ability to make quick decisions based on conditions. In contrast to Scott’s reliance on untested technology and animals less suited to the environment, Amundsen’s use of sled dogs proved superior in the Antarctic.
The achievement of being the first to reach the South Pole cemented Roald Amundsen’s legacy as one of the greatest explorers in history. His journey highlighted the importance of preparation, adaptability, and respect for the environment, elements that remain central to polar exploration to this day.
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