Science - polar-expedition

Dec

2011

11:29am, EST

Roald Amundsen's South Pole feat remembered 100 years on

Apic - Hulton Archive via Getty Images

Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen in the Antarctic in 1911.

The Associated Press reports:

Polar adventurers, scientists and the prime minister of Norway gathered at the bottom of the world Wednesday to mark the 100th anniversary of explorer Roald Amundsen becoming the first to reach the South Pole.

Under a crystal blue sky and temperatures of minus 40 F (minus 40 C), the group remembered the Norwegian explorer's achievement on the spot where he placed his flag on Dec. 14, 1911.

"We are here to celebrate one of the greatest feats in human history," Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said as he unveiled an ice sculpture of Amundsen.

AFP - Getty Images

From left: Roald Amundsen and his companions Oscar Wisting, Sverre Hassel and Helmer Hansen, saluting the Norwegian flag at the South Pole on December 16, 1911, two days after they reached their goal with the help of 52 dogs and four sledges.

Ole Mathismoen / AP

Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg joins three polar adventurers heading to the South Pole on Dec, 14, 2011 to mark the 100th anniversary of Roald Amundsen's feat. Several expeditions skied across Antarctica to attend the ceremony though many were delayed and had to be flown the last stretch.

Stoltenberg also honored British explorer Robert Falcon Scott, who lost the race against Amundsen and arrived at the South Pole more than month later, only to find Amundsen's tent, a Norwegian flag and a letter from Amundsen. Scott and four companions died on the way out.

Amundsen and his team spent almost two months skiing across the frozen Ross Sea, climbing steep hills to the Antarctic plateau at about 9,800 feet (3,000 meters) and crossing vast ice fields to reach the pole. Read the full story.