Who was the first person to reach the South Pole?
Quick answer
Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen led the first expedition to reach the South Pole, arriving on December 14, 1911, with four companions. British explorer Robert Falcon Scott reached the pole about five weeks later, on January 17, 1912, but he and his team died on the return journey.
The race to the pole
| Amundsen (Norway) | Scott (Britain) | |
|---|---|---|
| Reached the pole | December 14, 1911 | January 17, 1912 |
| Team at the pole | 5 men | 5 men |
| Main transport | Sled dogs and skis | Ponies, motor sledges, then man-hauling |
| Outcome | All returned safely | All five died on the way back |
Why Amundsen won
- Experience: He had learned polar survival from Inuit people in the Arctic, including fur clothing and dog handling.
- Dogs: His team used about 52 sled dogs, which could travel fast and work in extreme cold.
- Planning: He laid well-marked supply depots and chose a shorter, unexplored route.
- Skis: His Norwegian team members were expert skiers.
Scott’s ponies struggled in the cold, his motor sledges broke down, and his men ended up pulling their sledges themselves. Bad weather and short supplies trapped them just 18 km (11 miles) from a food depot. Scott’s diary, found later, made him a national hero in Britain.
Amundsen’s other firsts
- First to sail through the Northwest Passage (1903–1906)
- Part of the first flight over the North Pole in the airship Norge (1926)
He died in 1928 while searching for missing explorers in the Arctic.
The South Pole today
The US runs the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station there, named after both explorers. Temperatures can drop below −70°C in winter, and the sun stays below the horizon for about six months.
For another great “first,” see who was the first person on the Moon. Antarctica also touches every line of longitude; see which continent is in all four hemispheres.
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