The South Pole is Reached
Just two years after the North Pole was first reached by man, Norwegian explorer Captain Roald Amundsen and four of his expedition party were the first people to stand at the South Pole. On December 14th, 1911, the four men took in the sights at the Pole, took photos and raised the Norwegian flag.

The explorers had hoped to be the first to get to the North Pole but when news broke that it had already been claimed by first Frederick Cook and then Robert Peary, they made secret plans to be the first at the South Pole. The trip took 99 days and they used four sledges and 52 dogs. They arrived at the Pole 35 days before the British explorer Robert Scott and his party, who died on his return from the Pole. There was much argument about why one trip succeeded whilst the other didn't and Amundsen later wrote: "Victory awaits him who has everything in order - luck, people call it. Defeat is certain for him who has neglected to take the necessary precautions in time; this is called bad luck."