THE POLAR REGIONS—A COMPARISON

After the foregoing condensed résumé of Arctic and Antarctic exploration and discovery, I feel sure the reader will be interested in noting some of the striking contrasts between the two Poles and their surroundings. These contrasts are as great as the Poles are far apart. The North Pole is situated in an ocean of some fifteen hundred miles’ diameter, surrounded by land. The South Pole is situated in a continent of some twenty-five hundred miles’ diameter, surrounded by water. At the North Pole, Peary stood upon the frozen surface of an ocean more than two miles in depth. At the South Pole, Amundsen and Scott stood upon the surface of a great elevated snow plateau more than two miles above sea level. The lands that surround the North Polar Ocean have comparatively abundant life, musk oxen, reindeer, polar bears, wolves, foxes, arctic hares, ermines, and lemmings, together with insects and flowers, being found less than five hundred miles from the Pole. On the great South Polar continent no form of animal life is found.

From “On the Polar Star,” by the Duke of the Abruzzi. Copyright, Dodd, Mead & Co.

ENTRANCE TO HUT

A “home” in the polar regions.

Permanent human life exists within some seven hundred miles of the North Pole; none is found within twenty-three hundred miles of the South Pole. The history of Arctic exploration goes back nearly four hundred years. The history of Antarctic efforts covers one hundred and forty years. The record of Arctic exploration is studded with crushed and foundering ships, and the deaths of hundreds of brave men. The record of Antarctic exploration shows the loss of but one ship, and the death of a dozen men.

AT THE SOUTH POLE—PHOTOGRAPHED BY AMUNDSEN

For all those who aspire to the North Pole, the road lies over the frozen surface of an ocean, the ice on which breaks up completely every summer, drifting about under the influence of wind and tide, and may crack into numerous fissures and lanes of open water at any time, even in the depth of the severest winter, under the influence of storms. For those who aspire to the South Pole, the road lies over an eternal, immovable surface, the latter part rising ten thousand and eleven thousand feet above sea level. And herein lies the inestimable advantage to the South Polar explorer which enables him to make his depots at convenient distances, and thus lighten his load and increase his speed.

Copr., 1913, by International News Service

IN MEMORY OF BRAVE MEN

The cross erected on Observation Hill to Scott and his courageous companions.

PRECEDED BY AMUNDSEN

When Captain Scott and his party reached the South Pole they found that Amundsen had been there before them. Captain Scott is peering into the tent left by Amundsen’s expedition.