Who was the first person to reach the South Pole?
- A.Roald Amundsen
- B.Robert Falcon Scott
- C.Robert Peary
- D.Ernest Shackleton
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is A, Roald Amundsen. The Norwegian explorer and his party reached the South Pole in December 1911, using dog sledges and a carefully laid line of supply depots, and returned safely.
Option B, Robert Falcon Scott, led the British party that reached the same point about a month later, in January 1912, only to find Amundsen's tent already there; Scott and his companions died on the return journey, and he is the standard distractor because the race between the two is so well known. Option C, Robert Peary, belongs to the other end of the Earth, being credited in most examination lists with reaching the North Pole in 1909. Option D, Ernest Shackleton, led famous Antarctic expeditions, including the Endurance voyage, but never stood at the Pole itself.
Read the full article: First in the World: Space, Exploration and Records
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