history

History of Antarctica

and the South Pole

• • The first humans to make it to the South Pole were a Norwegian group of adventurers, headed by Roald Amundsen. The word Krill is also a Norwegian word that means “whale food”.

  • There are disputes over the first sighting of Antarctica; however the first documented landing on the mainland of Antarctica was by American sealer John Davis on February 7^th 1821.

    • The first seamen who ventured to Antarctica were confused about the varying colors of patches of water. Later they learned that it was Krill hanging out on the surface, which is actually not a common sight. Mostly, schools of Krill remain in deeper water during the daylight and only surface when it’s dark. This is to avoid being picked off by birds and aquatic animals.

Geology Index