Amundsen Reaches South Pole First: A Month Before Scott
Roald Amundsen's team reached the South Pole on December 14, 1911, beating Robert Scott by over a month through superior dog handling and ski techniques. They established supply depots along the Axel Heiberg Glacier, named their camp Polheim, and left a letter confirming their arrival before returning to Framheim with eleven surviving dogs. This victory secured Norway's place in polar history while exposing the fatal flaws in British expedition planning.
December 14, 1911
115 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on December 14
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