Putting Antarctica on the Map

Part of the Antarctica: The Farthest Place Close to Home Curriculum Collection.

How has our ability to map Antarctica changed in the past 100 years? Do a little exploring of your own, and see what we've learned since Roald Amundsen raced to reach the South Pole first.

At the Pole by Roald Amundsen As a child, Amundsen dreamed of exploring the North Pole. Yet it is his discovery of the South Pole for which he is best known. Read... Excerpt: The Voyage of the James Caird by Ernest Shackleton Just one day away from Antarctica, Shackleton's ship was crushed and destroyed. His ingenuity and bravery helped save the crew. Antarctic Exploration While its existence had been predicted for thousands of years, Antarctica was the very last continent discovered. Learn about its... Antarctica's Early Explorers The first time Manahan walked into Scott's primitive 1902 hut, still sitting out on the Antarctic ice, he couldn't help but see how... Understanding Exploration Compass, dog sled, telephone, computer, Global Positioning System (GPS)—which of these technological advances has made the...