Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen Biography

Birth of Roald Amundsen

Amundsen joins the Belgian Antarctic Expedition (1897-99) as first mate

Serves on Adrien de Gerlache's Belgica expedition, the first expedition to winter in Antarctica, and learns polar survival lessons including the value of fresh meat against scurvy

Amundsen and the crew learned from the local Netsilik Inuit people about Arctic survival skills, which he found invaluable in his later expedition to the South Pole.

Amundsen led the first expedition to successfully traverse Canadas Northwest Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (something explorers had been attempting since the days of Christopher Columbus, John Cabot, Jacques Cartier, and Henry Hudson).

For example, he learned to use sled dogs for transportation of goods and to wear animal skins in lieu of heavy, woolen parkas, which could not deter cold when wet

Leaves on the Gjoa to sail the North West Passage & reach the North Magnetic Pole.

Leaves on the Gjoa to sail the North West Passage & reach the North Magnetic Pole

Reaches sight of the Magnetic North Pole but discovers that it is migratory

Amundsens crew returned to Oslo in November 1906, after almost 3.5 years abroad. Amundsens team reach Nome in 1906. Because the water along the route was sometimes as shallow as 3 ft (0.91 m), a larger ship could not have made the voyag. 1st person to navigate the North West Passage

Reaches sight of the Magnetic North Pole but discovers that it is migratory

Amundsens crew returned to Oslo in November 1906, after almost 3.5 years abroad

After hearing that Frederick Cook and Robert Peary claim the North Pole, decides to redirect his polar ambitions toward Antarctica

Wants to be the 1st to reach the North Pole but Peary & Henson beat him to it so decides to head for the South Pole

Decides to be the 1st to the South Pole after being beaten to the North Pole

Redirects plans from the North Pole to Antarctica after claims that the North Pole has already been reached

Plans to become the first explorer to reach the South Pole after the North Pole has apparently been claimed by American expeditions

Using the ship Fram ("Forward"), earlier used by Fridtjof Nansen, he left Norway for the south, leaving Oslo

Amundsen left Oslo for the south on 3 June 1910

Sails from Norway in Fram while still publicly presenting the voyage as an Arctic expedition

Announces the southern objective of the Fram expedition at Madeira and turns openly toward the race for the South Pole

At Madeira, tells his men that Fram will proceed to Antarctica and sends Scott the telegram: BEG TO INFORM YOU FRAM PROCEEDING ANTARCTIC--AMUNDSEN

Reveals to his crew that the Fram expedition is bound for Antarctica and not the Arctic Ocean

Using skis and dog sleds for transportation Amundsen and his men created supply depots at 80, 81 and 82 South on the Barrier, along a line directly south to the Pole

Establishes Framheim at the Bay of Whales as the Norwegian base for the South Pole attempt

The expedition arrived at the eastern edge of Ross Ice Shelf at a large inlet called the Bay of Whales where Amundsen located his base camp and named it Framheim

The expedition arrived at the eastern edge of the Ross Ice Shelf (then known as "the Great Ice Barrier"), at a large inlet called the Bay of Whales

Amundsen established his base camp there, calling it Framheim

Begins depot-laying journeys across the Ross Ice Shelf to prepare the route toward the Pole

Begins an early start for the Pole but turns back after severe cold shows that the attempt is premature

A small group, including Hjalmar Johansen, Kristian Prestrud and Jørgen Stubberud, set out on 8 September 1911, but had to abandon their trek due to extreme temperatures

A second attempt, with a team made up of Olav Bjaaland, Helmer Hanssen, Sverre Hassel, Oscar Wisting, and Amundsen, depart base camp. They took four sledges and 52 dogs

Sets out from Framheim with Bjaaland, Hanssen, Hassel and Wisting for the successful South Pole journey

A second attempt with a team, consisting of Olav Bjaaland, Helmer Hanssen, Sverre Hassel, Oscar Wisting, and Amundsen himself, depart taking four sledges and 52 dogs

Using a route along the previously unknown Axel Heiberg Glacier Amundsen arrives at the edge of the Polar Plateau after a four-day climb

The expedition arrives at the edge of the Polar Plateau

1st person to reach the South Pole, beating Captain Scott

Amundsen renamed the Antarctic Plateau as King Haakon VIIs Plateau. Amundsen names their South Pole camp Polheim, "Home on the Pole.". Amundens team of six, with 16 dogs, arrived at the Pole (9000S). they arrive 35 days before Scotts group. 1st person to reach the South Pole, beating Captain Scott

Amundsen renamed the Antarctic Plateau as King Haakon VIIs Plateau

Becomes the first expedition leader to reach the Geographic South Pole

Amundsens team of five, with 16 dogs, arrives at the Pole (90° 0 S). They arrived 3334 days before Scotts group. Amundsen named their South Pole camp Polheim, meaning "Home on the Pole." Amundsen renamed the Antarctic Plateau as King Haakon VIIs Plateau. They left a small tent and letter stating their accomplishment, in case they did not return safely to Framheim

Amundsen wrote about the expedition in The South Pole: An Account of the Norwegian Antarctic Expedition in the Fram

Returns safely to Framheim with the South Pole party after completing the polar journey

The team return to Framheim with 11 dogs

The team returned to Framheim with 11 surviving dogs

Amundsens success is publicly announced on March 7, 1912, when he arrives at Hobart, Australia

Announces from Hobart that his party has reached the South Pole

The Expedition makes its way to Hobart, Australia, where Amundsen publicly announces his success

Announces King Haaken & Queen Maude agree to use their names for discovered areas. Announces his discovery of the South Pole

Reaches the North Pole by dirigible

Death of Roald Amundsen, while on a mission to save another explorer