The Race to the South Pole
Know how Amundsen's team reached the South Pole on 14 December 1911 and Scott's team arrived 34 days later. Compare their transport and preparation. Scott's five-person pole party died returning. Follow the 1914 to 1916 Endurance story from the lost ship to Elephant Island, the journey for help and the rescue of its 28 people.
What a learner can do afterwards
- Describe the Scott vs Amundsen race: Amundsen arrived 14 December 1911 using dog sleds; Scott arrived 34 days later and died on the return
- Explain at least two parts of Amundsen's preparation, such as dog sleds, skiing skills, polar experience and food supplies placed along the route
- Narrate the key events of the Endurance expedition: ship crushed, camps on ice, boat journey to South Georgia, all crew rescued
1 · Read
You have met Scott, Amundsen and Shackleton. In 1911, Roald Amundsen from Norway and Robert Falcon Scott from Britain led teams toward the South Pole. Amundsen's team arrived first, on 14 December 1911. Scott's team reached it on 17 January 1912.
Amundsen's team used dog sleds and skis. Polar experience and food supplies placed along the route helped them. Scott used several transport methods, including dogs earlier in the journey. His final five-person pole party pulled its loaded sledges themselves. This took hard work. All five died returning. Severe cold, exhaustion and shortages of food and fuel made survival difficult.
Shackleton's expedition began in 1914. The plan was to cross Antarctica on foot. In 1915, ice trapped and badly damaged Endurance. Its crew left the ship and camped on floating ice. The ship sank. Later, the crew used lifeboats to reach Elephant Island.
Shackleton and five others sailed a small boat to South Georgia to seek help. The other 22 people waited on Elephant Island. Shackleton later returned with a rescue ship. Those waiting were rescued in 1916. All 28 people who had sailed on Endurance survived.
Amundsen arrived first. Scott's five-person pole party died returning. After Endurance was lost, six people sought help while 22 waited. All 28 survived.
Linked video: The dangerous race for the South Pole, by Elizabeth Leane for TED-Ed.
Explore more
2 · Watch
Take it off screen
Where it sits
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.