Roald Amundsen

Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen (July 16, 1872–June 18?, 1928) was a Norwegian explorer of polar regions. He led the Antarctic expedition of 1910–1912 which was the first to reach the South Pole.

First expeditions

He joined the Belgian Antarctic Expedition (1897–1899) as second mate. Led by Adrien de Gerlache, their ship the Belgica became the first to winter in Antarctica. Also on board was an American doctor, Frederick Cook. Cook probably saved the crew from scurvy, an important lesson for Amundsen's future expeditions.

Related Topics:
Belgian Antarctic Expedition - 1897 - 1899 - Adrien de Gerlache - Belgica - Antarctica - Frederick Cook - Scurvy

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In 1903 Amundsen led the first expedition to traverse the Northwest Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, with six others in the ship Gjøa. They travelled via Baffin Bay, Lancaster and Peel Sounds, and James Ross and Rae Straits to spend two winters exploring over land and ice from the place today called Gjoa Haven, Nunavut, Canada.

Related Topics:
1903 - Northwest Passage - Atlantic - Pacific Ocean - Gjøa - Baffin Bay - Lancaster - Peel Sound - James Ross - Rae Strait - Gjoa Haven - Nunavut - Canada

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During this time Amundsen studied the local Netsilik people in order to learn Arctic survival skills and soon adopted their dress. From them he learned to use sled dogs. Continuing to the south of Victoria Island, the ship cleared the Arctic Archipelago on August 17, 1905, but had to stop for the winter before going on to Nome on the Alaska Territory's Pacific coast. 500 miles (800 km) away, Eagle City, Alaska, had a telegraph station; Amundsen travelled there (and back) overland to wire a success message (collect) on December 5, 1905. Nome was reached in 1906. Due to water as shallow as 3 feet (1 m), a larger ship could never have used the route.

Related Topics:
Netsilik - Sled dog - Victoria Island - Arctic Archipelago - August 17 - 1905 - Nome - Alaska Territory - Eagle City, Alaska - Telegraph - Collect - December 5 - 1906

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