THE NORTH POLE ATTAINED
The third period is from 1895 to date. In this period, while other valuable work was being done,—as Amundsen’s navigation of the Northwest Passage, Sverdrup’s extensive discoveries in the North American archipelago, Erichsen’s completion of the last gap in the north Greenland coast line,—three men, Nansen, Abruzzi, and Peary, each having for his object the attainment of the North Pole, pushed in succession far beyond the farthest of their predecessors, penetrating the inmost regions of the north, and the last named attaining the Pole which had been the prize of centuries.
Briefly summarized, from 1526 to 1882 Great Britain held the palm of nearest approach to the Pole, slowly pushing the record up till Markham reached 83° 20´ north latitude. Then the lead came to the United States with Lockwood and Brainard’s 83° 24´. In 1895 Norway went to the front in a great leap in Nansen’s 86° 14´, and in 1900 Italy grasped the blue ribbon with Abruzzi’s 86° 33´. In 1906 the United States took the lead again with Peary’s 87° 6´, and finally closed the record with his attainment of the Pole on April 6 and 7, 1909.