Roald Amundsen

Abstract

Contains a biography of the Norwegian explorer, 1872-1928, who was the first to navigate the Northwest Passage and to fly across the Arctic Ocean. His early life, travels in the Antarctic, and financial difficulties are described; his arctic explorations are recounted: through the Northwest Passage on the Gjoa 1903-1906, and the Northeast Passage on the Maud 1918-25, the scientific data accumulated; the north magnetic pole relocated by the Gjoa party. The Amundsen-Ellsworth flight of 1925 and that of Amundsen-Ellsworth-Nobile in 1926 pioneered the use of aircraft in arctic exploration.