19 October 1911
The polar party leaves Framheim
Amundsen and four companions began their successful journey toward the South Pole with skis and dog teams.
polar · overland
Amundsen’s South Pole Expedition
Roald Amundsen’s Norwegian party travelled from the Bay of Whales by ski and dog sled, reaching the South Pole before returning safely.
Dates9 August 1910–7 March 1912
Purposefirst attainment, documentation
Outcomecompleted
Transportsailing ship, ski, dog sled
Historical significance
The expedition made the first verified attainment of the geographic South Pole and demonstrated highly planned polar travel techniques.
Significant moments
14 December 1911
Amundsen’s party reaches the South Pole
The five-man party became the first documented expedition to reach the Geographic South Pole.
25 January 1912
The party returns safely to Framheim
Amundsen’s party returned to its Bay of Whales base after a journey of roughly three months.
Framheim to the South Pole
Journey to the Pole and return
19 October 1911–25 January 1912 · dog sled · high route
Representative route: Framheim → South Pole
People
- Roald Amundsen: Norwegian polar explorer who led the first verified expedition to the South Pole.
Vehicles
- Fram: Norwegian polar ship used first for Nansen’s Arctic drift and later to carry Amundsen’s expedition south.
Major places
- Bay of Whales: The Ross Ice Shelf base area of Amundsen’s Framheim camp.
- Geographic South Pole: The southern point at which all meridians converge.
Sources
- Roald Amundsen and the South Pole, The Fram Museum. Chronology and route of the Norwegian expedition.