The 1911 expedition to the South Pole

Amundsen set out for an expedition to the North Pole, but when both Frederick A. Cook and Robert E. Peary claimed to have reached the pole in 1908 and 1909, respectively, Amundsen chose in secret to alter his plans. He turned the voyage South toward Artarctica, in a race with Scott to the South Pole. Amundsen reached the South Pole on December 14 1911, five weeks before Scott, who perished during his return journey.

Photos are courtesy of the the National Library of Norway and Norwegian Polar Institute.

no-nb_bldsa_NBRA0107_kort
Amundsen, Hanssen, Hassel, Bjaaland and Wisting planted the Norwegian flag on the South Pole. Postcard. Credit: "artist: Andreas Bloch, Publisher: Mittet & Co. / Owner: National Library, bldsa_NBRA0107"
no-nb_bldsa_NPRA0127
Olav Bjaaland with dogs on the South Pole, 14-17 December 1911. Credit: "photographer: unknown / Owner: National Library, bldsa_NPRA0127"
no-nb_bldsa_NPRA0132
Amundsen takes sunlight intensity and Helmer Hanssen controls the artificial horizon at the South Pole, 14-17 December 1911. Credit: "photographer: unknown / Owner: National Library, bldsa_NPRA0132"
no-nb_bldsa_NPRA0136
Owner: National Library, bldsa_NPRA0136
no-nb_bldsa_NPRA0139
Adolf Lindstrøm with his famous "hot cakes". Framheim, the Bay of Whales, Antarctica, 1911. Credit: "photographer: unknown / Owner: National Library, bldsa_NPRA0139"
no-nb_bldsa_NPRA0145
Owner: National Library, bldsa_NPRA0145
no-nb_bldsa_NPRA0524
Oscar Wisting, Olav Bjaaland, Sverre Hassel and Roald Amundsen on the South Pole, 14 December 1911. Credit: "Photographer: Helmer Hanssen / Owner: National Library, bldsa_NPRA0524"
no-nb_bldsa_NPRA0525
Oscar Wisting with dogs at the South Pole, 14-17 December 1911. Credit: "photographer: unknown / Owner: National Library, bldsa_NPRA0525"
no-nb_bldsa_NPRA0644
Dinner in Framheims living room. Olav Bjaaland, Sverre Hassel, Oscar Wisting, Helmer Hanssen, Roald Amundsen, Hjalmar Johansen, Jørgen Stubberud and Kristian Prestrud. Framheim, the Bay of Whales, 1911. Colored glass slides. Credit: "photographer: unknown / Owner: National Library, bldsa_NPRA0644"
no-nb_bldsa_NPRA0740
Owner: National Library, bldsa_NPRA0740
no-nb_bldsa_NPRA0779
Owner: National Library, bldsa_NPRA0779
no-nb_bldsa_NPRA1028
Owner: National Library, bldsa_NPRA1028
no-nb_bldsa_NPRA1049
Adolf H. Lindstrom in Framheims kitchen. Framheim, the Bay of Whales, Antarctica, 1911. Credit: "photographer: unknown / Owner: National Library, bldsa_NPRA1049"
no-nb_bldsa_NPRA1063
"Fram" at the ice edge in the Bay of Whales. In the foreground a skier with a sled. Bay of Whales, Antarctica, 1911. Credit: "photographer: unknown / Owner: National Library, bldsa_NPRA1063"
no-nb_bldsa_NPRA1094b
Owner: National Library, bldsa_NPRA1094b
no-nb_bldsa_NPRA1095b
Bindings of the skis was perfected over several revisions, Framheim the Bay of Whales, Antarctica, 1911. Credits: "photographer: unknown / Owner: National Library, bldsa_NPRA1095"
no-nb_bldsa_NPRA1101
Helmer Hanssen and Oscar Wisting in "Intendanten" which was the name of their work room. It was one of the many rooms that were dug out of the snow around Framheim. The room was used as a workshop and for storing equipment. Framheim, the Bay of Whales, Antarctica, 1911. Credit: "photographer: unknown / Owner: National Library, bldsa_NPRA1101"
no-nb_bldsa_NPRA1105
Roald Amundsen looking at Martin Ronne who is sewing on the machine. Above them the sun shade that made ​​sure that all the dogs lay in the shade on the journey to Antarctica. Norway, Antarctica, 1910. Credit: "photographer: unknown / Owner: National Library, bldsa_NPRA1105".
no-nb_bldsa_NPRA1117
Framheim with tents, dog and equipment around. Framheim, the Bay of Whales, Antarctica, 1911. Credit: "photographer: unknown / Owner: National Library, bldsa_NPRA1117"
no-nb_bldsa_NPRA1147
Owner: National Library, bldsa_NPRA1147
no-nb_bldsa_NPRA1148
Owner: National Library, bldsa_NPRA1148
no-nb_bldsa_NPRA1363b
Framheim with all the dogs. Framheim, the Bay of Whales, Antarctica, 1911. Credit: "photographer: unknown / Owner: National Library, bldsa_NPRA1363"
no-nb_bldsa_NPRA1415b
Owner: National Library, bldsa_NPRA1415b
no-nb_bldsa_NPRA1436
Owner: National Library, bldsa_NPRA1436
no-nb_bldsa_NPRA1482
In Framheims living embroider on various equipment. Around the table sit Olav Bjaaland, Sverre Hassel, Oscar Wisting, Helmer Hanssen, Amundsen, Hjalmar Johansen, Kristian Prestrud, and Jørgen Stubberud, Framheim the Bay of Whales, Antarctica, 1911. Credit: "photographer: unknown / Owner: National Library, bldsa_NPRA1482"
np001855
Roald Amundsen's South Pole Expedition 1911. Amundsen, H. Hanssen, Hassel and Wisting at the South Pole on the day of departure. The Norwegians had spent some days at the North Pole and made various scientific observations. To the right stood the tent as Ronne had made. In it let you leave some words of Scott, a letter to King Haakon VII, and some observational instruments and clothing. The journey from Framheim to the Pole and back took 99 days and about 3000 km was covered. Olav's Bjaaland took the photo. The picture belongs to a collection of glass slides collected by Captain John Christopher Tornøe. Photo: Norwegian Polar Institute
NP018384
Roald Amundsen's South Pole Expedition 1911. Amundsen, Hanssen, Hassel and Wisting at the South Pole on the day of departure. The Norwegians had spent some days at the Pole and made various scientific observations. To the right is the tent that Ronne had made. They left behind some words to Scott, a letter to King Haakon VII, and some observational instruments and clothing. The journey from Framheim to the Pole and back took 99 days and about 3000 km was covered. Olav Bjaaland took the photo. The picture belongs to a collection of glass slides collected by Captain John Christopher Tornøe. Photo: Norwegian Polar Institute