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The geographic coordinates of the South Pole are usually given simply as 90°S, since its longitude is geometrically undefined and irrelevant. When a longitude is desired, it may be given as 0°. At the South Pole, all directions face north. For this reason, directions at the Pole are given relative to "grid north", which points northwards along the prime meridian. Along tight latitude circles, clockwise is east, and counterclockwise is west, opposite to the North Pole. | The geographic coordinates of the South Pole are usually given simply as 90°S, since its longitude is geometrically undefined and irrelevant. When a longitude is desired, it may be given as 0°. At the South Pole, all directions face north. For this reason, directions at the Pole are given relative to "grid north", which points northwards along the prime meridian. Along tight latitude circles, clockwise is east, and counterclockwise is west, opposite to the North Pole. | ||
The Geographic South Pole is located on the continent of [[Antarctica]] (although this has not been the case for all of Earth's history because of continental drift). It sits atop a featureless, barren, windswept and icy plateau at an altitude of 2,835 meters (9,301 ft) above sea level, and is located about 1,300 km (800 mi) from the nearest open sea at Bay of Whales. The ice is estimated to be about 2,700 meters (9,000 ft) thick at the Pole, so the land surface under the ice sheet is actually near sea level. | The Geographic South Pole is located on the continent of [[Antarctica]] (although this has not been the case for all of Earth's history because of continental drift). It sits atop a featureless, barren, windswept and icy plateau at an altitude of 2,835 meters (9,301 ft) above sea level, and is located about 1,300 km (800 mi) from the nearest open sea at [[Bay of Whales]]. The ice is estimated to be about 2,700 meters (9,000 ft) thick at the Pole, so the land surface under the ice sheet is actually near sea level. | ||
The polar ice sheet is moving at a rate of roughly 10 meters per year in a direction between 37° and 40° west of grid north, down towards the [[Weddell Sea]]. Therefore, the position of the station and other artificial features relative to the geographic pole gradually shift over time. | The polar ice sheet is moving at a rate of roughly 10 meters per year in a direction between 37° and 40° west of grid north, down towards the [[Weddell Sea]]. Therefore, the position of the station and other artificial features relative to the geographic pole gradually shift over time. | ||
The Geographic South Pole is marked by a stake in the ice alongside a small sign; these are repositioned each year in a ceremony on New Year's Day to compensate for the movement of the [[ice]]. The sign records the respective dates that [[Roald Amundsen]] and [[Robert | The Geographic South Pole is marked by a stake in the ice alongside a small sign; these are repositioned each year in a ceremony on New Year's Day to compensate for the movement of the [[ice]]. The sign records the respective dates that [[Roald Amundsen]] and [[Robert Falcon Scott]] reached the Pole, followed by a short quotation from each man, and gives the elevation as "9,301 FT.". A new marker stake is designed and fabricated each year by staff at the site. | ||
==Historic monuments== | ==Historic monuments== | ||
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==Exploration== | ==Exploration== | ||
===Pre-1900=== | ===Pre-1900=== | ||
In 1820, several expeditions claimed to have been the first to have sighted Antarctica, with the very first being the Russian expedition led by [[ | In 1820, several expeditions claimed to have been the first to have sighted Antarctica, with the very first being the Russian expedition led by [[Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen]] and Mikhail Lazarev. The first landing was probably just over a year later when American Captain John Davis, a sealer, set foot on the [[ice]]. | ||
The basic geography of the Antarctic coastline was not understood until the mid-to-late 19th century. American naval officer Charles Wilkes claimed (correctly) that Antarctica was a new continent, basing the claim on his exploration in 1839–40, while James Clark Ross, in his expedition of 1839–43, hoped that he might be able to sail all the way to the South Pole. (He was unsuccessful.) | The basic geography of the Antarctic coastline was not understood until the mid-to-late 19th century. American naval officer [[Charles Wilkes]] claimed (correctly) that Antarctica was a new continent, basing the claim on his exploration in 1839–40, while [[James Clark Ross]], in his expedition of 1839–43, hoped that he might be able to sail all the way to the South Pole. (He was unsuccessful.) | ||
===1900–1950=== | ===1900–1950=== | ||
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===1950–present=== | ===1950–present=== | ||
It was not until 31 October 1956 that humans once again set foot at the South Pole, when a party led by Admiral George J. Dufek of the | It was not until 31 October 1956 that humans once again set foot at the South Pole, when a party led by [[Admiral George J. Dufek]] of the [[U.S. Navy]] landed there in an R4D-5L Skytrain (C-47 Skytrain) aircraft. The US Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station was established by air over 1956–1957 for the International Geophysical Year and has been continuously staffed since then by research and support personnel. | ||
After Amundsen and Scott, the next people to reach the South Pole overland (albeit with some air support) were Edmund Hillary (January 4, 1958) and Vivian Fuchs (January 19, 1958) and their respective parties, during the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition. There have been many subsequent expeditions to arrive at the South Pole by surface transportation, including those by Havola, Crary and Fiennes. First group of women to reach the pole were Pam Young, Jean Pearson, Lois Jones, Eileen McSaveney, Kay Lindsay and Terry Tickhill in 1969. In 1978 Michele Eileen Raney became the first woman to winter at the South Pole. | After Amundsen and Scott, the next people to reach the South Pole overland (albeit with some air support) were Edmund Hillary (January 4, 1958) and Vivian Fuchs (January 19, 1958) and their respective parties, during the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition. There have been many subsequent expeditions to arrive at the South Pole by surface transportation, including those by Havola, Crary and Fiennes. First group of women to reach the pole were Pam Young, Jean Pearson, Lois Jones, Eileen McSaveney, Kay Lindsay and Terry Tickhill in 1969. In 1978 Michele Eileen Raney became the first woman to winter at the South Pole. | ||
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==Flora and fauna== | ==Flora and fauna== | ||
Due to its exceptionally harsh climate, there are no native resident plants or animals at the South Pole. Remarkably, though, off-course south polar skuas and snow | Due to its exceptionally harsh climate, there are no native resident plants or animals at the South Pole. Remarkably, though, off-course south polar skuas and [[snow petrel]]s are occasionally seen there. | ||
In 2000 it was reported that microbes had been detected living in the South Pole [[ice]]. | In 2000 it was reported that microbes had been detected living in the South Pole [[ice]]. | ||
[[Category:Geography of Westarctica]] | [[Category:Geography of Westarctica]] | ||