Why did Douglas Mawson travel to Antarctica?

Why did Douglas Mawson travel to Antarctica?

Born in Yorkshire, England, but happily settled in Australia, he had declined the chance to join Robert Falcon Scott’s doomed expedition in order to lead the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, whose chief purpose was to explore and map some of the most remote fastnesses of the white continent.

What did Douglas Mawson explore?

From 1911 to 1914 Mawson led the Australasian Antarctic Expedition and from 1929 to 1931 directed the combined British, Australian, and New Zealand Antarctic Expedition. His explorations enabled Australia to claim some 2,500,000 square miles (6,475,000 square km) of the Antarctic continent.

How did Douglas Mawson change the world?

Mawson’s expedition was the first to connect Antarctica to the outside world by radio. On his return, Douglas Mawson took his place as a great figure in the Heroic Age of Antarctica Exploration. In 1984, 70 years on, his face appeared on the 100 Australian dollar bank note.

What was Sir Douglas Mawson famous for?

By leading Australia’s first Antarctic research expedition, Mawson became an internationally acclaimed scientist and explorer. His face is well known today, having adorned postage stamps and the Australian $100 note.

Where is Douglas Mawson buried?

Mawson died at his Brighton home on 14 October 1958 following cerebral haemorrhage. He was accorded a Commonwealth state funeral and was buried at St Jude’s Anglican Church, Brighton. A memorial service, arranged by the university, was held at St Peter’s Cathedral, Adelaide.

How did Mawson and Mertz survive?

After Ninnis and a sledge carrying most of the food disappeared down a crevasse, 311 miles (500 km) from the expedition’s main hut, Mertz and Mawson headed back west, gradually using the dogs to supplement their remaining food stocks. About 100 miles (160 km) from safety, Mertz died, leaving Mawson to carry on alone.

Who Discovered Antarctica?

The race to find Antarctica sparked competition to locate the South Pole—and stoked another rivalry. Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen found it on December 14, 1911. Just over a month later, Robert Falcon Scott found it, too. He turned back with disastrous results.

Did Mawson eat Mertz?

But the real story behind it may have been much darker, according to a new book by an award-wining historian, David Day, who suggests Mawson deliberately starved Mertz to death – and then boiled up his flesh and ate it. As he and Mertz began the long trek back, Mawson drastically cut their rations.

How old is Douglas Mawson?

76 years (1882–1958)
Douglas Mawson/Age at death

He died at his Brighton home on 14 October 1958 from a cerebral haemorrhage. He was 76 years old. At the time of his death he had still not completed editorial work on all the papers resulting from his expedition, and this was completed by his eldest daughter, Patricia, only in 1975.

Is it legal to go to Antarctica?

No, it is not illegal to go to Antarctica. As you already know by now, no country owns the continent. There is no border control, no immigration officer, no nothing. Anyone can visit the continent.

Can you legally go to Antarctica?

Who owns Antarctica? Antarctica is the only continent on Earth without a native human population. Since no country owns Antarctica, no visa is required to travel there. If you are a citizen of a country that is a signatory of the Antarctic Treaty, you do need to get permission to travel to Antarctica.

Why do airplanes not fly over Antarctica?

Why don’t planes fly over Antarctica? The White Continent does not have much in the way of infrastructure and herein lies why planes do not fly over it. Something called ETOPS (Extended Operations) governs how far from an emergency diversion airport certain aircraft are allowed to fly, according to its model.

Who was the expedition leader with Douglas Mawson?

Along with Roald Amundsen, Robert Falcon Scott, and Sir Ernest Shackleton, he was a key expedition leader during the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. The Mawson Station in the Australian Antarctic Territory is named in his honour.

What was the purpose of Mawson’s other purpose?

Additional help. Mawson’s Other Purpose is an excerpt from the documentary Mawson – Life and Death in Antarctica produced in 2007. The Douglas Mawson Antarctic Expedition of 1912 is one of the most amazing feats of endurance of all time.

Why did Douglas Mawson want to go to Antarctica?

Born in Yorkshire, England, but happily settled in Australia, he had declined the chance to join Robert Falcon Scott’s doomed expedition in order to lead the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, whose chief purpose was to explore and map some of the most remote fastnesses of the white continent.

Why was Douglas Mawson a national hero in Australia?

Douglas Mawson is a national hero. He was a remarkable explorer and the expeditions he led helped claim for Australia 42 per cent of Antarctica. He is also famous for one of the most extraordinary feats of endurance in the history of Antarctic exploration. But Mawson was first and foremost a scientist.