10 Interesting Roald Amundsen Facts

Monday, March 2nd 2015. | People

Roald Amundsen Facts talk about the famous explorer in the world. He was born on 16 July 1872 in Borge, Norway. He passed away on 18 June 1928 during a rescue attempt. He became prominent in the world since he was the first man to visit the South Pole. Let’s find out more facts about Amundsen below:

Roald Amundsen Facts 1: fame

Amundsen gained the attention of the people in the world after he explored North and South Poles. He was the first man who did it. He led the first expedition to reach the poles of earth.

Roald Amundsen Facts 2: the early life

Amundsen had three brothers. When he was 14 years old, his father died. He worked in a shipping industry.

Facts about Roald Amundsen

Roald Amundsen Facts 3: the dream

Amundsen had a dream to become an explorer. But his mother had different point of view since she wanted him to become a doctor. When he was 21 years old, his mother died.

Roald Amundsen Facts 4: the explorer

Before his mother died, he followed her wish. After her death, he began following his dream as an explorer. He left the school to pursue his dream by becoming a crewmember in different ships to travel to the Arctic.

Roald Amundsen Pic

Roald Amundsen Facts 5: Belgica

Belgica was a name of the ship that he was first mate in 1887. During the expedition in the Arctic, he learned many valuable lessons to survive in the rough weather in the Arctic. He realized that animal skin was more useful to keep the body warm rather than using the wool coat. To cure the scurvy, the fresh seal meat was useful for it contained a lot of vitamin C. Get facts about Marcopolo here.

Roald Amundsen Facts 6: his own expedition

His first expedition was with a ship named Gjoa. He led his first expedition in 1903. He took the credit as the first person who discovered the Northwest Passage to the Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic Ocean. He traveled to North Pole. It was a great accomplishment for him to discover the passage since many people tried to discover it.

Roald Amundsen Picture

Roald Amundsen Facts 7: the expedition to the South Pole

He decided to reach the South Pole after Robert Peary claimed that he had already gone to the North Pole. Therefore, Amundsen changed his direction from the North Pole to the South Pole.

Roald Amundsen Facts 8: in a race

Actually he was in a race with Robert Scott who also wanted to reach South Pole. The ship of Amundsen arrived at Bay of Whales in Antarctica on 14 January 1911.

Roald Amundsen Young

Roald Amundsen Facts 9: the arrival to Antarctica

The arrival of the ship was on 20th October 1911 after 10 months of journey. The expedition involved 52 dogs, four sleds and 5 men. Get facts about Prince Henry the Navigator.