[imagesource:here]
107 years ago, renowned polar explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton set out with his crew aboard the Endurance, a ship that is now somewhere at the bottom of the Weddell Sea in Antarctica.
This epic quest is not when Sir Ernest died, but his iconic ship did – now a treasure to be found by a new expedition leaving from Cape Town.
South African icebreaker ship the SA Agulhas II will be leaving our shores on February 5 (Saturday), one month after the 100th anniversary of Sir Ernest’s death, with a team of researchers and scientists who are keen to unearth his treasures.
The Endurance22 Expedition aims to find, survey, and film the wreck of the uncovered relic of the “Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration” which sank during Sir Ernest’s Antarctica adventure in 1915.
It was a treacherous trip that forced Sir Ernest’s boat and crew to be trapped in sea ice for more than 10 months.
Thankfully the crew successfully escaped in lifeboats and on foot after the ice pressure became too much:
Today marks the 100th anniversary of the passing of Kilkea born Polar explorer, Ernest Shackleton
Kildare County Council is progressing plans for a major redevelopment of The Shackleton Museum Athy, which will host the cabin in which the explorer died on his final expedition pic.twitter.com/w2eYnxyeyv
— Kildare County Council (@KildareCoCo) January 5, 2022
South Africa is playing a critical role in helping to get to the bottom of where the Endurance sank, reported Business Insider SA:
The SA Agulhas II, an icebreaking polar supply and research ship belonging to the department of environment, forestry, and fisheries has been chartered for the expedition, which is expected to last for 35 days, according to the South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP).
The 13 687-ton vessel, equipped with laboratories, cargo holds, and a helideck, was handed to the department in 2012. Since then, the SA Agulhas II has completed several trips to Marion Island, Gough Island, and the 4 000km journey to the SANAE IV station in Antarctica.
Supporting the journey are also two choppers supplied by a South African helicopter company, Ultimate Heli, which has more than 800 hours of Antarctic flight experience.
These helicopters will drop remote-controlled underwater vehicles tasked with locating the Endurance.
You can check out this video for more information:
Via The Irish Independent, Honourable Alexandra Shackleton, granddaughter of Sir Ernest, said her grandfather would have been “amused and pleased” that a century later there is such a massive interest in his adventures:
Telling the story of one of his earlier expeditions, she added: “He got within 97 miles of the South Pole, he would have been the first, but he and his companions were in a bad state physically and though they probably could have staggered on, they would have died there.
“So, he took the decision to turn back, which I regard as one of the great decisions in polar history and one I’m very proud of.
“He brought his men back alive.”
Sir Ernest’s plan was to trek across almost 3 000 kilometres of Antarctica from the Weddell Sea via the South Pole to the Ross Sea.
Mensun Bound, the director of the exploration, said that they will be doing everything they can to bring this epic tale of Endurance’s final voyage, and of the leadership, courage, and fortitude of her crew, to people around the world.
I am just chuffed that South Africa is so involved in this.
[sources:businessinsider&independent.ie]
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