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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.
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James Cook first crossed the Antarctic Continent in 1773, on the Ship, Resolution.
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Captain Thaddeus Bellingshausen, was a Russian Naval Officer, who circumnavigated Antarctica, and was the first to cross the Antarctic Circle since Captain James Cook
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On February 7th, American Sealer Captain John Davis landed on Antarctica, and in the same year, a crew of 10 Men spent Winter on the icy Continent.
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British whaler James Weddell discovers the sea named after him and then reaches the most southerly point at that time 74° 15' S.
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In 1840, British naval officer and scientist James Clark Ross takes two ships, the Erebus and the Terror, to within 80 miles of the coast until stopped by a massive ice barrier - now called the Ross Ice Shelf. He also discovers the active volcano that he names after his ship Erebus,
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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. They become the first to survive an Antarctic winter(involuntarily!) as their ship drifts with the ice.
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Captain Scott, UK, leads his first Antarctic expedition to try 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.
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Ernest Shackleton leads expedition to within 156km / 97mls of the South Pole, turns back after supplies are exhausted
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In January, Australian Douglas Mawson reaches the South Magnetic Pole.
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December 14th. Norwegian Roald Amundsen leads a five man expedition that reaches the South Pole for the first time.
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January 18th. 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), are to perish on the return journey only 11 miles from supply depot. Bodies are not discovered until November.
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Ernest Shackleton returns to Antarctica in an attempt to complete the first crossing of the continent. The goal is not attained, but one of the greatest adventures of all time follows. 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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12 nations establish over 60 stations in Antarctica. The beginning of international cooperation in Antarctica and the start of the process by which Antarctica becomes 'Non National'
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12 nations establish over 60 stations in Antarctica. The beginning of international cooperation in Antarctica and the start of the process by which Antarctica becomes 'Non National'. The Antarctic Treaty comes into effect in 1961
