Shackleton’s lost ship Endurance found off Antarctica. Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton, 1874 – 1922 was an Anglo-Irish Antarctic explorer who led three British expeditions to the Antarctic. Shackleton became a principal figure of the period known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.
Shackleton’s loss of his ship Endurance made him a legend. During the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914–1917, disaster struck his expedition, their ship, Endurance, found itself trapped in thick pack ice. As a result, the ice slowly crushed the ship, and before the shore parties could land.
His crew only narrowly escaped by camping on the sea ice until it completely disintegrated. Furthermore, Shackleton then launched his lifeboats to reach Elephant Island and ultimately South Georgia Island. A rough ocean voyage of 720 nautical miles (1,330 km; 830 mi) which would become Shackleton’s most famous exploit.
Voyage of the Endurance Drift of the Endurance in pack ice Sea ice drift after the Endurance sinks Voyage of the James Caird Planned trans-Antarctic route Voyage of the Aurora to Antarctica Retreat of the Aurora Supply depot route
Shackleton (L) looks over the broken remains of his ship just before it went to the deep
Shackleton’s lost Endurance is lost no more.
From the expedition’s release earlier today:
“The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust is pleased to confirm that the Endurance22 Expedition has located the wreck of Endurance, Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship which has not been seen since it was crushed by the ice and sank in the Weddell Sea in 1915.”
Working from the South African polar research and logistics vessel, S.A. Agulhas II. Which is owned by the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment. The ship was located at a “depth of 3008 metres”
Taffrail and ship’s wheel, aft well deck. Image © Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust / National Geographic
“The preservation is beyond imagination,” Mensun Bound, director of exploration at the Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust, in addition, told NBC News on Wednesday. “It is virtually intact.”
The stern of the Endurance with the name and emblematic polestar. Image © Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust / National Geographic
“We are overwhelmed by our good fortune in having located and captured images of Endurance,” he added in a statement included in a press release about the discovery. “This is by far the finest wooden shipwreck I have ever seen.”
“We hope our discovery will engage young people and inspire them with the pioneering spirit, courage and fortitude of those who sailed Endurance to Antarctica,”
Furthermore, photographs and a 90 second video of Endurance, as well as other expedition images, are available for download at, https://collect.wetransfer.com/board/sowc348bfrvti58ge20220307165300
In conclusion, images by expedition photographer, Esther Horvath, are available at, https://collect.wetransfer.com/board/sfjlebmu68n9iaalu20220308115614
