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Ernest Shackleton was a polar explorer who led three British expeditions to the Antarctic, and one of the principal figures of the period known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.

After the race to the South Pole ended in December 1911 with Roald Amundsen's conquest, Shackleton turned his attention to the crossing of Antarctica from sea to sea, via the pole. To this end he made preparations for what became the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1914–17. Disaster struck this expedition when its ship, Endurance, became trapped in pack ice and was slowly crushed before the shore parties could be landed. The crew escaped by camping on the sea ice until it disintegrated, then by launching the lifeboats to reach Elephant Island and ultimately the inhabited island of South Georgia, a stormy ocean voyage of 720 nautical miles and Shackleton's most famous exploit.

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• 15 Mar - Viceroys are appointed to rule the colonies of Westarctica.
• 5 Mar - The Duke of Denfeld is elected Senate Leader.
• 4 Jan - Westarctica joins the Conference of Santiago.
• 25 Nov - Grand Duke Travis attends the 2023 Dracul State Visit with Dracul.
• 23 Nov - The Flag of Westarctica arrives on the Antarctic Peninsula.
• 20 Nov - The Flag of Westarctica arrives at D'Hainaut Island.
• 7 Nov - The Senate of Westarctica renames McHenry Range and Tulier Glacier.
• 2 Nov - The 2023 Westarctica Conservation Scholarship is awarded to scientist Nathan Blake.

This month in history President Baugh of Molossia meeting Grand Duke Travis 05 May - A Statute for the Autonomy for the Balleny Islands is approved by Grand Duke Travis. (2005) 11 May - The Consular-Consort is disbarred from the nobility and exiled from the Achaean Territory. Her son, Prince Ashton Roman retains his right as heir to the throne. (2004) 15 May - Grand Duke Travis attends a State Dinner with Emperor Oscar of the Empire of Karnia-Ruthenia. (2023) 17 May - Westarctica's first Treaty with another nation is signed with the Republic of Molossia (first state visit pictured). (2005) 22 May - The Royal Council, Westarctica's cabinet, meets for the first time since 2006. (2018) 24 May - Prime Minister Waesche resigns from his post as leader of Westarctica's government after seven years as Prime Minister. (2017) 24 May - Grand Duke Travis attends a diplomatic dinner with leaders from Atlantium and the Principality of Wy. (2022) 26 May - A coup to remove Grand Duke Jon-Lawrence from the throne of Westarctica is successfully organized by the Minister of Defense and the former Grand Duke Travis. (2010) 31 May - Grand Duke Travis conducts a diplomatic visit to Atlantium. (2022)

Featured image The Brown Skua is a large seabird that breeds in the subantarctic and Antarctic zones and moves further north when not breeding. Brown skuas are masters of piracy, they often feed by stealing partially digested fish from the the beaks of other birds. Their victims are typically terns or penguins, though other fish-eating species are also pursued until they disgorge their catches. The fact that skuas are swift and agile fliers (and that they sometimes gang up on a single victim) aid in their success rate. This is the heaviest species of skua and rivals even the largest gulls as the heaviest species in the shorebird order although not as large in length or wingspan. Photographer: Jenny Varley (More Images)

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