The early 20th century witnessed an intense rivalry to reach the Earth’s South Pole, paralleling the race to the North Pole led by American explorer Robert Peary. Unlike the North Pole, the South Pole presented a unique challenge as it required an overland journey across an ice sheet atop a continental landmass, entailing an arduous 800-mile trek in extreme winter conditions.
In 1908-1909, British explorer Ernest Shackleton and his team aboard the Nimrod made a valiant attempt, coming within 100 miles of the pole before turning back. The quest intensified in the Antarctic summer of 1911 with two expeditions: one led by British Royal Navy officer Robert Scott aboard the Terra Nova, and the other by Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen on the ship Fram. Scott’s team, funded by the British Royal Society, reached the South Pole on January 17, 1912, only to discover that Amundsen had beaten them by five weeks.
Amundsen, a self-funded polar explorer, and his well-equipped team became instant heroes upon their return in March 1912. In contrast, Scott and his team faced a tragic end, perishing during their return journey amid harsh weather and limited supplies. Their story, reaching England in early 1913, also earned them posthumous acclaim as heroes.
Today, Antarctica is dedicated to scientific research, with countries worldwide sharing stewardship. The Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station, a U.S. scientific research base, stands as a testament to the legacy of both explorers.
