Timeline of Antarctica

Chronology

13 events spanning the history of Antarctica. BCE/CE dating.

1. 350 BCE

   http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/History/exploration%20and%20history.htm

   It was the ancient Greeks who first came up with the idea of Antarctica. They knew about the Arctic - named Arktos - The Bear, from the constellation the great bear and decided that in order to balance the world, there should be a similar cold Southern landmass that was the same but the opposite “Ant - Arktos” - opposite The Bear. They never actually went there, it was just a lucky guess!

2. 1773

   http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/History/exploration%20and%20history.htm

   In January, James Cook crosses the Antarctic circle and circumnavigates Antarctica, though he doesn't sight land, deposits of rock seen in icebergs showed that a southern continent exists. His comment - “I make bold to declare that the world will derive no benefit from it”.

3. 1819

   http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/History/exploration%20and%20history.htm

   Captain Thaddeus Bellingshausen a Russian naval officer in the Vostok and Mirny circumnavigates the Antarctic, first to cross the Antarctic circle since Cook. He made the first sighting of the continent, reaching 69? 21'S, 2? 14'W - describing an “icefield covered with small hillocks.” on Jan 27th 1820. For some considerable time, exactly who and when first set eyes on Antarctica were in dispute as British naval officers, William Smith and Edward Bransfield also saw Antarctica on Jan 30th the same year - followed by American sealer Nathaniel Palmer on Nov 16th. This was the first time a continent had truly been “discovered” (i.e. there weren't any native peoples living there who'd known about it for ages already). All sightings are of the Antarctic Peninsula.

4. 1821

   http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/History/exploration%20and%20history.htm

   First known landing by American sealer Capt. John Davis

5. 1899

   http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/History/exploration%20and%20history.htm

   Carsten Borchgrevink leads a British expedition that landed men at Cape Adare and built huts

6. 1902

   http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/History/exploration%20and%20history.htm

   Captain Scott, UK, leads his first Antarctic expedition to reach the South Pole, with Ernest Shackleton and Edward Wilson. They are forced to turn back two months later having reached 82 degrees south, suffering from snow blindness and scurvy.

7. 1909

   http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/History/exploration%20and%20history.htm

   January, Australian Douglas Mawson reaches the South Magnetic Pole.

8. 1911

   http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/History/exploration%20and%20history.htm

   December 14th. Norwegian Roald Amundsen leads a five man expedition that reaches the South Pole for the first time.

9. 1929

   http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/History/exploration%20and%20history.htm

   Richard E. Byrd and three others - US - become the first to fly over the South Pole.

10. 1947

    http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/History/exploration%20and%20history.htm

    Operation Highjump - US - sends the largest ever expedition of over 4700 men, 13 ships and 23 airplanes to Antarctica. Most of the coast is photographed for map making.