Polar Explorers for Kids: Historic Expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic with 21 Activities

Polar Explorers for Kids: Historic Expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic with 21 Activities — page 3
Thousands of people inhabit the Arctic and have for many thousands of years Antarctica with its harsher climate has no native peoples but hundreds of sci entists have spent months at a time here to study this vast and treacherous glacial wonderland Over the years technological advances such as navigational devices protective clothing and sturdier vessels have made exploration of these distant lands slightly less daunting But even just a few decades ago staggering dangers difficulties and discomforts awaited polar explorers in the Arctic and Antarctica These adventurers braved deadly weather with poor maps imperfect navigation technology impossible communication challenges dangerous animals uncertain food supplies and often ill health Explor ers faced unending danger and fear one storm could shove enough ice at a wooden ship to crush it like a piece of hard candy between your jaws One summer day’s sail through a field of icebergs could panic an inexperienced crew into mutiny An early winter could strand an expedition on an ice floe a large slab of floating ice a potentially fatal place A single mis take could end the whole venture and unsuccessful explorers might not be given more money from bene factors to attempt any more excursions Why did they do it Why did the polar explorers set their dreams for farthest north and farthest south Their reasons varied A few early adventurers were hermits seeking a place to be alone with God or were simply curious about what was at the