How did humans explore Antarctica a hundred years ago?
The story of legendary explorer Shackleton and the Endurance
Are you willing to take a gamble and cross 1,300 kilometers of the world's most dangerous ocean with only one month's worth of food and a lifeboat to save your 27 fellow explorers?
credit: history.com
Today, we can comfortably travel to Antarctica aboard luxury cruise ships. Occasionally, you'll spot travelers sailing through the tranquil waters of Antarctica, and wonder how they navigate these peaceful waters safely despite the storms. A century ago, humanity knew very little about Antarctica. Without advanced technology, traveling to Antarctica was a arduous, even life-threatening, expedition.
In August 1914, legendary Irish explorer Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton led a 27-member expedition aboard the sailing ship Endurance, setting sail from England to the South Atlantic, aiming to accomplish a feat never before accomplished in human exploration: the first walking crossing of the Antarctic continent.
credit: bbc.com
However, just before reaching the Antarctic continent, the Endurance was surrounded by pack ice near the Weddell Sea. The crushing ice proved disastrous for the immobilized Endurance, and the ship was unable to escape. At this point, the crew was less than 85 miles from the Antarctic continent. Sir Shackleton and his companions were forced to abandon ship, and the Endurance sank in the Weddell Sea ten months later.
If the story ended there, it would just be a shipwreck. What is touching is Sir Shackleton's next decision.
credit: cnn.com
After abandoning ship, Shackleton and his crew boarded a functioning lifeboat and reached Elephant Island, off the coast of any major shipping route. If they remained on the island, they would likely remain undiscovered and face certain death. Therefore, Shackleton decided to take a gamble and led his five crew members across 1,300 kilometers of the treacherous Southern Ocean to South Georgia Island in search of help – the only hope for the 28 men who remained.
After 15 days of struggling at sea, Sir Shackleton and his five crew members miraculously reached South Georgia Island. After a ten-day hike, they finally reached the whaling station and received help. After three failed attempts to return, they finally set off and returned to Elephant Island with the help of the Chilean government. All 22 crew members who had persisted for 102 days were miraculously rescued.
Decades after this story became a legend, Antarctic archaeologists around the world were concerned with another question: where exactly is the Endurance that sank to the bottom of the sea?
According to Sir Shackleton's diary, the Endurance sank in the Weald Sea, one of the world's coldest waters. Archaeologists speculate that the shipwreck lies nearly 3,000 meters below sea level. However, in recent years, temperatures of -15°C (-15°C) and the surrounding sea ice have made the search extremely difficult. Unexpectedly, earlier this year, Antarctic temperatures reached record highs, accelerating the melting of the sea ice and allowing for smoother search operations.
Finally, after more than a century of slumber, the Endurance reappeared before the eyes of the world on March 5th of this year, which was also the 100th anniversary of Sir Shackleton's death.
As for whether the Endurance has been salvaged? According to the provisions of the Antarctic Treaty, the Endurance is a historical site and monument, belonging to the Southern Ocean, so it will remain in its original location and no salvage will be carried out.
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