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In January 1773, Captain James Cook crosses the Antarctic circle and circumnavigates Antarctica, though he doesn't sight land
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1819 - 21
Captain Thaddeus Bellingshausen a Russian naval officer in the Vostok is the first to cross the Antarctic circle since Cook. -
The first known landing on continental Antarctica by American sealer Captain John Davis
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British whaler James Weddell reaches the most southerly point at that time 74° 15' S.
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Separate British, French and American expeditions establish the status of Antarctica as a continent after sailing along continuous coastline.
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Adrien de Gerlache and the crew of the "Belgica" become trapped in pack ice off the Antarctic Peninsula in the first scientific expedition to the continent.
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Carsten Borchgrevink leads a British expedition that landed men at Cape Adare and built huts.
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Captain Scott leads his first Antarctic expedition to try to reach the South Pole, with Ernest Shackleton and Edward Wilson.
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1907 - 1909 Ernest Shackleton leads expedition to within 156km / 97mls of the South Pole
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Australian Douglas Mawson reaches the South Magnetic Pole.
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Norwegian Roald Amundsen leads a five man expedition that reaches the South Pole for the first time.
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Britain's Captain Robert Falcon Scott reaches the South Pole to discover he has been beaten by Amundsen. All of the five man team (Scott, Bowers, Evans, Oates and Wilson), perish on the return journey only 11 miles from supply depot.
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Douglas Mawson begins his trek across George V Land back to his base at Commonwealth Bay. A new section of coast is discovered and described, and radio is used for the first time in Antarctica.
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Ernest Shackleton returns to Antarctica in an attempt to complete the first crossing of the continent. Their ship is crushed in the sea ice and a small party sets out for South Georgia and the whaling station. The party is eventually rescued in 1917.
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Richard E. Byrd and three others from the United States become the first to fly over the South Pole.
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Antarctic treaty comes into effect
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Boerge Ousland (Norway) becomes first person to cross Antarctica unsupported. Taking 64 days from Berkner Island to Scott base towing a 180kg (400lb) sled and using skis and a sail.
