South Pole Travel Guide
Travel to South Pole - Southernmost point of Planet Earth
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Deep in the heart of the Antarctic wilderness, the Geographical South Pole (also known as the Terrestrial South Pole) lies on a featureless icy plateau at an altitude of 2,835 metres at 90°S 0°W. One of several ‘South Poles’, this is not the Magnetic South Pole, which currently rests at 65°S, 139°E (2007) and is listed separately under East Antarctica.
Southernmost point on the surface of Planet Earth, the South Pole was the focus of the major exploration in the early 20th Century, and is today home to the US Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, which has been permanently staffed since that date. Centre of study and research, the ice here is estimated to be an incredible 2,700 metres deep.
After a long and bitter struggle, the first people to reach the Geographical South Pole were the Norwegian Expedition team, on 14 December 1911, led by Roald Amundsen. The British explorer Robert Falcon Scott arrived with his Terra Nova Expedition, but one month too late - the race for the Pole was now over. On his return trip, Scott and his four companions died in this extreme wilderness.
Many attempts for new Polar firsts followed – but it was not until October 1956 the next people set foot at the Pole, when the US Navy party landed here by air and began to establish the The US Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.
Attractions in South Pole
Most visitors only have a couple of hours at the South Pole. This is easily filled by visiting the Ceremonial South Pole, the Geographical South Pole and the US-operated Amundson-Scott Polar Research Centre.
Activities in South Pole
For those not staying for just a few hours, or months as a researcher, there is one main activity connected to the South Pole – a major Antarctic trekking expedition.
Relaxing
The Amundson-Scott Polar Research Centre is an intimate community of researchers and polar specialists, much of which is off-limits to visitors. Should you be given permission to do so, however, find some space here to ponder on how it would be to watch the seasons change from 24 hour daylight to unending darkness, in the heart of this Antarctic wilderness.
Getting Around
Most visitors will get around on foot. People on an expedition may also use kites, skis and sleighs. Local researchers have a number of mechanical systems of transport including snow mobiles and small planes.
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