South Pole

The South Pole is the southernmost point on the Earth, as defined in any of several ways.

Geographic South Pole

The Geographic South Pole is the one of two points where the earth's axis of rotation intersects the surface (the other being the Geographic North Pole). This is the point usually meant when an unspecified "south pole" is mentioned.

Related Topics:
Axis of rotation - Geographic North Pole

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The first humans to reach the Geographic South Pole were Roald Amundsen and his party on December 14, 1911. Amundsen named his camp Polheim. Amundsen's main competitor Robert Falcon Scott reached the Pole a month later. On the return trip Scott and his party of four all died of hunger and extreme cold. There have been many expeditions to arrive at the South Pole by surface transportation. The leaders of some of the first of these are, in order: Amundsen, Scott, Hillary, Fuchs, Havola, Crary, Fiennes. US Admiral Richard Byrd on November 29, 1929 became by the assistance of his first pilot Bernt Balchen the first person to fly over the South Pole.

Related Topics:
Roald Amundsen - December 14 - 1911 - Polheim - Robert Falcon Scott - Scott - Hillary - Fuchs - Havola - Crary - Fiennes - Richard Byrd - November 29 - 1929 - Bernt Balchen

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The fastest unsupported walking journey to the Geographic South Pole from the ocean is 47 days and was set in 1999 by explorers Tim Jarvis and Peter Treseder, who manhauled 200 kg sleds containing food and cooking fuel.

Related Topics:
Tim Jarvis - Peter Treseder

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At present, Antarctica is located over the South Pole, although this has not been the case for all of Earth's history because of continental drift. The Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station was established during the International Geophysical Year in 1958 and is permanently staffed by research and support personnel.

Related Topics:
Antarctica - Continental drift - Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station - International Geophysical Year - 1958

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The projection of the south geographic pole onto the celestial sphere gives the south celestial pole.

Related Topics:
Celestial sphere - Celestial pole

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The land at the South Pole is located near sea level. However, the ice cap is 3000 metres thick and consequently the Amundsen-Scott Base is a high altitude location.

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