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American sealer Captain John Davis makes landing on continental Antarctica.
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British whaler James Weddell discovered the Weddell Sea. He also journeyed the most south for that time.
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James Clark Ross takes two ships to within 80 miles off the coast of Antarctica before being stopped by the Ross Ice Shelf. Active volcano named Erebus is also found by him.
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Adrien de Gerlache and the crew of the "Belgica" become trapped in pack ice and (involuntarily) become the first to survive an Antarctic winter.
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Carsten Borchgrevink leads a British expedition. This was the first time that anyone had wintered on the Antarctic landmass. Believed by some historians to be the first confirmed landing on continental Antarctica.
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This time period is known as the Heroic Age for Antarctic Exploration.
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(Nothing to do with Antarctica)
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Captain Scott leads his first Antarctic expedition to try to reach the South Pole, with Ernest Shackleton and Edward Wilson.
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Australian Douglas Mawson reaches the South Magnetic Pole.
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Norwegian Roald Amundsen leads a five man expedition that reaches the South Pole for the first time.
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World War One (Nothing to do with Antarctica)
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Caroline Mikkelsen from Norway is the first woman to set foot on Antarctica.
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World War Two (Nothing to do with Antarctica)
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12 nations establish over 60 stations in Antarctica.
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Boerge Ousland from Norway becomes the first person to cross Antarctica unsupported.
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International Polar Year - Spans 2 years so researchers can have the opportunity to work in both polar regions or work in both summer and winter if they wish.