![]() ![]() This ragtag group didn’t speak the same language and had little to no experience with polar weather.ĭivisions and resentment among the crew members were aplenty, Sancton says. The continent’s fauna, flora, geology and coastlines were unknown at the time, Sanction says, which made the extensive voyage even more daunting.Ī couple dozen mostly unprepared men boarded the Belgica ship and set sail to explore the great unknown for three years. More than 120 years ago, people knew very little of Antarctica. ![]() Departures magazine senior features editor Julian Sancton details the harrowing tale in his new book, "Madhouse At The End Of The Earth." ![]() In 1897, daring Belgian commander Adrien de Gerlache set out to become the first explorer to visit the Earth’s south magnetic pole.ĭe Gerlache and his crew got stuck in sea ice and instead set a different record: They became the first people ever to spend an entire winter at the bottom of the Earth.īut not everyone escaped that freezing season with their lives - or their sanity. ![]() (Johan Ordonez/AFP via Getty Images)Įditor's note: This segment was rebroadcast on Jan. Facebook Email View of a glacier at sunset at Chiriguano Bay in South Shetland Islands, Antarctica on Nov. ![]()
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