Geographic coordinates of amundsen scott station. Amundsen and Scott. The history of the conquest of the South Pole of the Earth. New Station and Geographic South Pole

Winner Amundsen Returning from Antarctica, unexpectedly for everyone, Roald Amundsen entered the flying club, passed the exam and in June 1914 received the international certificate of the first civilian pilot in Norway. Its goal is still the same - the North Pole. Amundsen lays down

Amundsen Roald

Amundsen-Scott

December 14, 1911: The southernmost point of the planet was conquered 100 years ago. The first to do this was the expedition of the Norwegian Amundsen, ahead of the detachment of the British Scott by 34 days

January 4, 1911. Robert Scott and his comrades land in Antarctica on Scott Island, establishing a base camp 1381 km in a straight line from the target. For the hike, they chose a route explored to 88 ° 23 ′ south latitude.

January 14, 1911. Roald Amundsen stepped onto the ice of the continent. Together with other polar explorers, he settled on the shore of the Whale Bay, 1285 km from the pole. But they had to follow a path that had not been trodden before.

February 10, 1911. Amundsen made the first attempt to conquer the southern point. But a month later, due to bad weather, the detachment was forced to turn back. Several people returned to Camp Franheim with frostbitten feet. True, the advantage of this enterprise was that up to 82 ° the polar explorers left warehouses with food and equipment.

October 19, 1911. The Norwegian dog sledding expedition hit the road. At the same time, animals were divided into three categories depending on the circumstances. Some were left on the way back in temporary camps. The second, including those who were exhausted, were killed and fed to the third, and then performing the "transport" role. People also ate dog meat.

November 1, 1911. The start was taken by the squad of Robert Scott, who made the main bet on the pony as a pulling power. This, as the experts would later say, was one of his main mistakes.

December 7, 1911. Amundsen reached the so-called Shackleton Height - 88 ° 23 ′, the southernmost point that a person had previously reached. “I can’t convey the feelings that gripped me when I stood, understanding what had happened,” the Norwegian wrote in the book “South Pole”.

December 14, 1911. There was very little left to the desired goal, so the participants closely watched the instruments that measured the coordinates. At three o'clock in the afternoon, everyone shouted at the same time: "Stop!" The South Pole was conquered. In honor of the significant event, the flag of Norway was hoisted and the area was named the Plain of King Gokon VII.

January 17, 1912. Scott's expedition reached the pole. When the British discovered Amundsen's site, their disappointment knew no bounds.

January 25, 1912. In the morning the Norwegians stopped at the doorstep of the wooden house of the Franheim camp.

March 29, 1912. Robert Scott made the last entry in his diary, and soon died, like the other members of the expedition he led.

“I would sacrifice fame, absolutely everything, to get Robert Scott back to life,” Amundsen said of his rival. The bodies of the dead from Scott's squad, as well as the expedition's diary, were found on November 12, 1912. A pyramid of snow was erected over the grave, crowned with a cross of skis. Amundsen died in the ice of the North Pole in June 1928, when he went to rescue the missing dirigible "Italia".

“... A black flag tied to a sled runner, nearby - the remains of a camp, traces of sledges and skis going in both directions, clear prints of dog paws ... Then we understood everything. The Norwegians were ahead of us and were the first to reach the pole. This is a terrible disappointment, and I am very sorry for my faithful comrades. We changed our minds a lot, argued a lot among ourselves. Tomorrow we must go further - to the Pole, and then hurry home as fast as we can. The end of all our dreams; the return will be sad ”(entry from the diary of RF Scott, January 18, 1912).

Two attempts by the British to conquer the South Pole - in 1902 and 1909. - turned out to be unsuccessful. Robert Scott managed to advance to latitude 82 ° 17 ', Ernest Shackleton - to 88 ° 23'. By the way, the news that Shackleton, a former participant in Scott's 1902 campaign, was going on an independent expedition, came as an unpleasant surprise for the latter. He wrote several letters to Shackleton, in which he demanded not to use the coast of McMurdo Strait for the establishment of the base, since he considered it his exclusive right. After Shackleton was forced to land there, and did not find anything more or less suitable around, Scott began to consider him his personal enemy. I wonder what Navy Captain Scott would have done if Shackleton had achieved his goal? Recall that just in 1909 a scandal began over the other pole, the North: Robert Peary, having learned that he had lost the competition to Frederick Cook, used all his connections and a lot of money to mix a more successful competitor with mud.

But Shackleton "left the race" 180 km before the finish line, and in 1910 the British government and the Royal Geographical Society equipped another expedition to Antarctica, and Robert Falcon Scott, leading it, got a second chance. At the end of June, the expedition ship "Terra Nova" set sail. There were 65 people on board. Scott took with him 33 sled dogs and 15 small Chinese (and maybe Mongolian or Buryat) horses, as well as two motor sleds. There were a lot of scientific equipment on board, sufficient supplies of fuel, food and warm clothing.

And in September of the same year, the famous "Fram" headed by Roald Amundsen went to the shores of Antarctica. It was a real sensation. Amundsen dreamed of conquering the North Pole and especially for this he turned to Fridtjof Nansen many times with a request to provide him with this tried-and-true vessel, which also brought good luck. However, Nansen himself was not averse to repeating the attempt to reach the Pole and therefore hesitated, but finally agreed to hand over the Fram to Amundsen. He prepared to sail - across the Atlantic, around Cape Horn, further along the Pacific Ocean to the Bering Strait, and then drift, like Nansen, - along with ice through the central part of the Arctic.

And suddenly on September 9, during the call to Madeira, Amundsen announced to the crew about a change in his plans. Later, he claimed that he made the decision to go to the southernmost point of the planet spontaneously, suddenly learning that the North Pole had already submitted to one of the Americans. In fact, a whole year had passed since the dispatch of the victory telegrams from Cook and Peary - there could be no question of any surprise. Most likely, for some time he was really preparing for a drift in the Arctic Ocean, but nevertheless he made the decision to sail to Antarctica long before September 1910. Hiding his true plans, he gained time, and announcing them, instilled nervousness in Englishmen. Scott received word of Amundsen's plans in October, when the British were in Australia.

Scott's expedition arrived in Antarctica, on the coast of his favorite McMurdo Strait, in January 1911. At about the same time, but to the east, in Whale Bay, cut into the Ross Ice Shelf, the Fram appeared. Almost everyone considered it extremely dangerous to land on the surface of the glacier, especially very close to its edge, which is constantly breaking off. Risk? Undoubtedly. But Amundsen calculated everything. He knew that in the area of ​​Whale Bay the edge of the glacier had been stable for several decades, more precisely, since 1841, when it was discovered by James Clark Ross. At the same time, the Norwegian base was almost 100 km closer to the pole than Scott's camp.

The Fram was quickly unloaded. Instead of resting, Amundsen and several companions immediately set out on a campaign to 80 ° S. sh. There he set up a food warehouse. Along the route, at regular intervals, beacons were installed - poles with flags, and supplies of food for dogs were made. At the end of February, Amundsen led another detachment. This time the warehouses were arranged at 81 ° and 82 ° S. sh. In total, before the onset of the Antarctic winter, 3 tons of food for people and food for dogs were delivered to the warehouses. During the wintering, several strong and light sledges were made, the weight of the boxes was extremely lightweight: the boards were cut to a minimum thickness. The tents were painted black - gloomy, but very noticeable. Amundsen tried to take into account every detail. According to the great Norwegian, victory is brought not by so-called luck, but by careful consideration of all possible difficulties and dangers and, of course, preparedness for them.

It cannot be said that Scott prepared poorly: like the Norwegians, the British did not waste time and made several reconnaissance and preparatory campaigns along the future route. In the Antarctic spring, both squads went to the Pole. But the British left on November 1, and Amundsen on October 20, and the latter's camp was located much closer to the pole. Amundsen took several dozen sled dogs on the way, the British again relied on horsepower. They were just not enough. The unfortunate equids were not at all adapted to moving on ice; by the end of the first half of the distance they all died. By the way, motor sleds turned out to be an even more unreliable means of transportation on the Ice Continent. In general, soon people had to drag the sled up the hill by themselves. At the beginning of January 1912, when about 240 km remained to the target, Scott sent back the last auxiliary detachment, and he himself with four satellites went to the assault. The British reached the South Pole on 17 January, but there was already a tent with a Norwegian flag and a note from Amundsen. The Norwegians came to the Pole on December 14, ahead of their competitors for more than a month, and now they were finishing their way back. For the British, this was a terrible blow, and for the immensely ambitious Scott, it was a real shock.

But I had to go back. At first everything went well: the five moved from warehouse to warehouse, and the temperature did not drop below –30 ° С. However, every day the headwind

became stronger and stronger. And then misfortunes followed in a continuous series. Junior Officer Edgar Evans, a big man and joker, taken by Scott in the assault group despite serious violations of discipline, even at the pole, severely cut his hand, and this had a catastrophic effect on his state of mind. Soon he fell into a crack and received severe bruises, as well as a severe concussion. Evans was rapidly losing strength and died on February 17. It became more and more difficult to walk, the weather deteriorated - winter was beginning. Frost over forty, and a terrible wind, knocking down. Frostbite began; Lawrence Oates, who was no longer able to walk, was particularly badly affected. Once, in one of the intermediate camps, Oates crawled into a blizzard and did not return. Nobody stopped him. It happened on March 17th.

Little remained to the coastal base, but the forces were even less, and food and fuel were running out. On top of all the troubles - a monstrous blizzard, which did not allow even a step to step. Scott's diary is evidence of the gradual fading of hope for salvation. The last entry in it is dated March 29: “From the 21st, a continuous storm raged ... Every day we were ready to walk - only 11 miles to the warehouse - but there was no way to get out of the tent, so the snow was carrying and twisting. I don’t think that we can hope for anything else now ... It's a pity, but I don’t think that I will be able to write. R. Scott ".

Only the next summer, eight months later, the members of the English expedition found Scott's tent, which withstood all the winds. The bodies of Robert Scott, Edward Wilson and Henry Bowers lay in sleeping bags. Scott was the last to die: only his bag was not closed. Next to him they found notebooks, a camera, cassettes with films. Among the items were geological samples.

And what about the winners? The entire route - to the Pole and back, only about 3 thousand km - took Amundsen and his comrades 99 days. On the way back, the Norwegians were elated with victory, while the British, on the contrary, were crushed by the monstrous weight of defeat. The British walked on foot, and the Norwegians carried the remaining dogs. Amundsen and his comrades managed to cover the entire route before the weather worsened, Scott and his companions were caught in winter halfway to the shore. And finally, the same initial handicap - 100 km advantage and an earlier start. These are, perhaps, all the reasons for the victory of some and the defeat of others - remember Amundsen's statement about luck.

Subsequently, many accused Amundsen of cruelty to dogs. The fact is that it was impossible to establish warehouses with foodstuffs along the entire route. Amundsen decided to use his dogs not only as a draft force, but also as a source of food (an Eskimo dog gives about 25 kg of meat), which, moreover, does not need to be carried. He calculated when to shoot each dog in order to transform it from a vehicle into food. Is it cruel? Of course - in relation to the dogs, who served people faithfully. And in relation to people? Probably, we should admit that Amundsen was right, who chose the best option - from the point of view of human survival. The Norwegian himself believed that it was this circumstance that became the main factor in reaching the South Pole and a safe return to the coastal base.

For a very long time, the British considered Robert Scott to be the real conqueror of the pole.

FIGURES AND FACTS

main characters

Roald Amundsen, Norwegian polar explorer; Robert Scott, British officer, polar explorer

Other characters

Englishmen E. Evans, L. Oates, E. Wilson, G. Bowers; Norwegians O. Visting, H. Hansen and others.

Time of action

Route

From Whale Bay and the coast of McMurdo Strait, respectively, to the South Pole

Target

Conquest of the southernmost point of the planet

Meaning

Conquest of the South Pole. Ahead of Scott, Amundsen proved that there are no trifles in organizing expeditions.

"Antarctica is a continent in the center of Antarctica with an area of ​​13,975 km2, including 1582 km2 of ice shelves and islands" - such is the meager scientific characterization of a small white spot at the very bottom of the globe. But what is Antarctica really? This is an icy desert with conditions unbearable for a living creature: the temperature in winter is from -60 to -70 ° C, in summer -30 to -50 ° C, strong winds, an ice blizzard ... In East Antarctica there is a cold pole of the Earth - there are 89.2 ° frost!

Inhabitants of Antarctica, for example, seals, penguins, as well as sparse vegetation, nestle on the coast, where the Antarctic "heat" sets in in summer - the temperature rises to 1-2 ° C.

In the center of Antarctica is the South Pole of our planet (the word "southern" will seem like a mockery to you if you suddenly find yourself here). Like everything unknown and elusive, the South Pole attracted people to itself, and at the beginning of the 20th century, there were two daredevils who dared to reach it. This is Norwegian Roald Amundsen(1872-1928) and an Englishman Robert Scott(1868-1912). Just don't think that they headed there together. On the contrary, each of them strove to become the first, they were rivals, and this incredibly difficult campaign was a kind of competition between them. For one he brought fame, for another he became the last ... But first things first.

It all started with equipment, because the correct calculation when it comes to such, as we will say now, extreme travel, can cost people their lives. An experienced polar explorer and a native of the northern country, Roald Amundsen relied on sled dogs. Unpretentious, hardy, covered with thick wool huskies had to drag sledges with equipment. Amundsen himself and his companions intended to ski.

Motorcycle sleds of Scott's expedition. Photo: www.globallookpress.com

Robert Scott decided to use the achievement of scientific progress - a motor sled, as well as several teams of shaggy undersized ponies.

And so in 1911 the journey began. On January 14, Amundsen's ship Fram reached the last starting point - Whale Bay on the northwestern coast of Antarctica. Here the Norwegians had to replenish stocks and move to the southeast, into the desertedness and ice of the Antarctic waters. Amundsen sought to enter the Ross Sea, which cuts deeper than others into the continent of Antarctica.

He achieved his goal, but winter began. Going to Antarctica in winter is tantamount to suicide, so Amundsen decided to wait.

In early Antarctic spring, October 14, Amundsen with four comrades went to the Pole. The journey was difficult. 52 huskies were pulling a team of four loaded sleds. When the animals were exhausted, they were fed to more hardy comrades. Amundsen drew up a clear timetable and, surprisingly, almost did not break it. The rest of the way was covered on skis, and on December 14, 1912, the Norwegian flag was already flying at the South Pole. The South Pole has been conquered! After ten days, the travelers returned to the base.

Norwegian flag at the South Pole. Photo: www.globallookpress.com

Ironically, Robert Scott and his companions traveled to the Pole just days after Amundsen's return, unaware that the South Pole had already been conquered. On the way, it became clear how poorly the expedition was equipped. The engines of the new-fashioned sleigh broke down from the fierce frost, the horses died, and there was not enough food ... Many of the participants returned to the base, only Scott himself and four of his comrades stubbornly continued on their way. The unbearable cold, the icy wind knocking down from their feet, the blizzard covering everything around so that the satellites could not see each other, had to be overcome by brave explorers, obsessed with one goal: "Get there first!"

Hungry, frostbitten, exhausted, the British finally reached the South Pole on January 18. Now imagine what their disappointment was, but what disappointment is there - pain, resentment, collapse of all hopes when they saw the flag of Norway in front of them!

Robert Scott. Photo: www.globallookpress.com

Broken in spirit, the travelers set off on their way back, but never returned to the base. Without fuel and food, they died one after another. Only eight months later it was possible to find a tent covered with snow, and in it bodies frozen into the ice - all that remained of the English expedition.

Although no, not all. The only witness to the unfolding tragedy was also found - the diary of Robert Scott, which he kept, it seems, until his death. And there is also an example of true courage, unbending will to win, the ability to overcome obstacles, no matter what.