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THE RACE BEGINS

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head of Ross MacPhee

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The Norwegian Team
scrapbook page with pictures of Roald Amundsen, a ship called The Fram, and the crew members and dogs that came along
Portrait of Captain Amundsen from the side

Team Leader: Roald Amundsen

Roald Amundsen was an expert polar explorer. He had traveled to both the Arctic and Antarctic. He wanted to be the first to reach the North Pole. But when Americans took the prize, Amundsen secretly changed his destination to the South Pole.

many of the crew members posing in uniform

The Men of the Fram

Amundsen took 18 men on his voyage to Antarctica. He chose strong men and skilled dog-sled drivers. The crew left Norway in June 1910 thinking they were headed for the Arctic. Three months later, Amundsen told them his new plan: the South Pole. 

The sailboat the Fram

Built for the Ice

The Norwegian team set sail aboard the Fram. It means “forward” in Norwegian. Take a look at this long wooden ship. It was specially designed with a rounded front, back, and bottom to avoid getting stuck in sea ice.

on deck of ship with some of the dogs on board lounging

Four-Legged Passengers

The Fram also carried 100 sled dogs. Some had puppies aboard the ship, so the Norwegians reached Antarctica with 116 dogs! See the special shelter on the deck? The crew built it to protect the dogs from rain and ocean spray.

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Image Credits:

Roald Amundsen, © AGE Fotostock; Fram, courtesy of NOAA; crew, © The Fram Museum / JFO; dogs on Fram, © The Fram Museum / JFO.