Posted
on February 20, 2016
On
this date in 1935, Caroline Mikkelsen became the first woman to set
foot in Antarctica.
Mikkelsen,
born in Denmark, was married to a Norwegian man named Captain Klarius
Mikkelsen. The two were on an expedition to Antarctica – an
expedition paid for by Lars Christensen, a shipowner and whaling
magnate with money to burn – and he liked to “burn” it by
funding explorations of Antarctica!
On
this date in 1935, the expedition made landfall at the Vestfold
Hills, in Antarctica. Mikkelsen and others left the ship and built a
cairn – a pile of stones – to support the flag of Norway. They
took a photo to memorialize the moment.
Mount
Caroline Mikkelsen in Antarctica is named for her.
By
the way, Lars Christensen's wife Ingrid also traveled to Antarctica
that same year. She is considered one of the first women to visit
Antarctica and the very first woman to fly over Antarctica in an
airplane.
Ingrid
Christensen Coast in Antarctica is named for her.
More
firsts...
 |
| AWE made history when four American women became the first women to reach the South Pole on foot. It may have been the first all-women expedition to Antarctica. Read about this adventure in the book Four to the Pole. |
In
1820, several expeditions claimed to have been the first to see the
ice shelf of Antarctica.
The
first person to set foot on Antarctica was probably American Captain
John Davis, a seal hunter, in 1821.
Norwegian
explorer Roald Amundsen was the first to reach the South Pole in
1911.
The
first child known to be born in Antarctica is Emilio Marcos Palma,
born on January 7, 1978. His parents are Argentine citizens; he was
born at the Esperanza Base.
 |
| This is now-grown Emilio Palma, in Antarctica! |
I
cannot see any record for “first child to step foot on Antarctica”
– so little Emilio Palma (now grown up, of course!) may have been
the first child in Antarctica, although he may not have literally
“stepped foot” on the continent.
- or National Geographic – this report is about average people, tourists, not researchers, going to Antarctica!
Also
on this date:
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ahead:
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