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Race to the South Pole
I I
t was a historic race: 100 years t was a historic race: 100 years
ago Briton Robert Falcon Scott ago Briton Robert Falcon Scott
(1868 – 1912) and Norwegian (1868 – 1912) and Norwegian
Roald Amundsen (1872 – 1928) com-Roald Amundsen (1872 – 1928) com-
peted to be the fi rst to reach the South peted to be the fi rst to reach the South
Pole. They traveled along diff erent Pole. They traveled along diff erent
routes. Amundsen chose an unknown routes. Amundsen chose an unknown
path from the coast to the South Pole, path from the coast to the South Pole,
which was around 120 kilometers short-which was around 120 kilometers short-
er than the route taken by Scott. At each er than the route taken by Scott. At each
degree of latitude Amundsen set up degree of latitude Amundsen set up
depots with food and fuel. Thanks to his depots with food and fuel. Thanks to his
sled-dogs, the Norwegian often covered sled-dogs, the Norwegian often covered
more than 50 kilometers a day, whereas more than 50 kilometers a day, whereas
Scott made slower progress with his po-Scott made slower progress with his po-
nies and motor sleds. The sleds gave up nies and motor sleds. The sleds gave up
the ghost after only 90 kilometers and the ghost after only 90 kilometers and
the ponies collapsed from exhaustion the ponies collapsed from exhaustion
at the beginning of the climb up to the at the beginning of the climb up to the
polar plateau, leaving Scott and hispolar plateau, leaving Scott and his
team to pull their own sleds – with team to pull their own sleds – with
more than three quarters of the journey more than three quarters of the journey
ahead of them.ahead of them.
After 56 days, on December 14, After 56 days, on December 14,
1911, Roald Amundsen fi nally reached 1911, Roald Amundsen fi nally reached
the South Pole. It was -30°C and an the South Pole. It was -30°C and an
icy wind was blowing. One of his men icy wind was blowing. One of his men
noted: “The great thing is we are noted: “The great thing is we are
the fi rst!”the fi rst!”
Scott did not reach the South Pole Scott did not reach the South Pole
until January 17, 1912. Only to fi nd the until January 17, 1912. Only to fi nd the
Norwegian fl ag fl ying there. He jotted Norwegian fl ag fl ying there. He jotted
in his diary: “A terrible disappointment. in his diary: “A terrible disappointment.
All the eff ort, all the sacrifi ce, all the All the eff ort, all the sacrifi ce, all the
torment, for what?” Scott and his men torment, for what?” Scott and his men
did not have enough food or fuel with did not have enough food or fuel with
them, were suff ering from scurvy and them, were suff ering from scurvy and
frostbite. The 1,500-kilometer return frostbite. The 1,500-kilometer return
leg was just too much, and 20 kilo-leg was just too much, and 20 kilo-
meters from the camp with stores that meters from the camp with stores that
would have saved them Scott gave up –would have saved them Scott gave up –
at -40° C and in the midst of severe at -40° C and in the midst of severe
snow storms. His last diary entry is snow storms. His last diary entry is
dated March 29, 1912. His body and dated March 29, 1912. His body and
those of his companions were found those of his companions were found
eight months later.eight months later.
Three years earlier, on April 6, 1909, Three years earlier, on April 6, 1909,
American explorers Robert Edwin Peary American explorers Robert Edwin Peary
and Matthew Henson had reached and Matthew Henson had reached
the North Pole. However, the scientifi c the North Pole. However, the scientifi c
documentation on their achievement documentation on their achievement
is inconclusive.is inconclusive.
It is exactly 100 years ago that the fi rst person It is exactly 100 years ago that the fi rst person
reached the South Pole and thus one of the world’s reached the South Pole and thus one of the world’s
last uncharted points.last uncharted points.
3
4
2
1100 years of polar exploration
(1) American Robert Edwin Peary (1856 – 1920) claims to have reached the North Pole at
his third attempt, on April 6, 1909. (2) British Naval offi cer Robert Falcon Scott paid
for his thirst for exploration with his life. He lost the race to reach the South Pole – to his
Norwegian rival (3) Roald Amundsen, who raised his country’s fl ag on the polar ice (4)
on December 14, 1911.
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