Antarctica history in brief - By Howard Hillman

Antarctica
history in brief

page 1 of 3

History in photos

Shackleton's Endurance
Antarctica's
most heroic story

1909

The British explorer Ernest Shackleton came close to being the first human to reach the South Pole, but was forced back when supplies ran perilously low.

Two years later

Another explorer accomplished the feat, so Shackleton fashioned a new goal: To be the
first to cross the Antarctica Continent. In 1915 he sailed into the Wendell Sea
to begin the trek.

Unfortunately

Shackleton's Endurance ship became trapped in ice and was slowly crushed. The Endurance began listing (see photo) and eventually sank, leaving the Shackelton team shipless in the middle of nowhere. Miraculously, he was able to lead his men safely back to civilization on a long journey on foot over perilous ice and on a tiny lifeboat over open seas.

Learn more on
Antarctica's history.
Click:

PAGE TWO - Race to the South Pole
PAGE THREE - More interesting facts