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Though many attempted it, the first person to complete the grueling trek to the South Pole was Norwegian explorer Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen, one of the most successful polar explorers ever. A powerfully built man often referred to as "the last of the Vikings," Amundsen was born into a family of merchant sea captains and prosperous ship owners in 1872 near Oslo. As a youth, he pored over polar exploration literature, slept with the windows open, and devoted time to training and strengthening his body for the hazardous undertaking of conquering the polar regions. Trained as a naval officer
and a scientist, he applied his skills to his first Antarctic expedition in 1897. In 1903, he led a 70-foot fishing boat through the entire Northwest Passage, a tricky route full of icy pitfalls. Next, Amundsen set his sights on conquering the North Pole in 1909. Unfortunately, American explorer Robert E. Peary beat him to the Arctic pole in April 1909. Unfazed, Amundsen quickly regrouped and secretly set sail for the South Pole from Madeira Island. With a team of 4 companions, 52 dogs, and 4 sleds, the determined Norwegian embarked on his two-month odyssey
on October 19, 1911. Battling the elements and an expedition headed by English explorer Robert Falcon Scott, Amundsen reached the finish line on December 14, 1911, and returned home a hero. Scott's expedition culminated on January 17, 1912, but, sadly, his crew perished on the difficult journey back.
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