Amundsen, Roald

views updated

Amundsen, Roald (1872–1928) Norwegian explorer and the first man to reach the South Pole. In 1903–06, Amundsen became the first man to sail through the Northwest Passage and determined the exact position of the magnetic North Pole. He was beaten by Robert Peary in the race to the North Pole and he turned to Antarctica. Amundsen reached the South Pole on December 14, 1911 (35 days before Scott). In 1918, he sailed for the Northeast Passage. In 1926, Amundsen and Umberto Nobile made the first flight across the North Pole. He died in a plane crash while searching for Nobile.

http://www.roaldamundsen.no

More From encyclopedia.com