Among the greatest of man's accomplishments is the discovery of new worlds, the conquering of the unknown. From the earliest to the most recent Arctic and Antarctic explorers, all have had to have courage, stamina, intelligence, and ingenuity. This engrossing book tells the story of these exceptional men and their struggles to reach their goals.
The history of Arctic exploration begins with the ancient Greeks and the Vikings and goes on through the conquest of the Northeast Passage in 1879 by Sweden and the Northwest Passage by Roald Amundsen in 1906. The exciting tale of the exploration of the North Pole is traced from the first expedition sent by Henry VIII to Robert Peary's triumphant planting of the American flag at the Pole in 1906. The heartbreaking race between Robert Scott and Amundsen to reach the South Pole is re-created with all its drama and poignancy.
The book concludes with the role of flight in polar exploration, accounts of Admiral Byrd's famous exploits, and the studies undertaken during the International Geophysical Year.
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