Roald Amundsen

Roald Amundsen was a famous explorer born in Norway in 1872. He loved cold places and big adventures. He wanted to go where no one had gone before. In 1911, he became the first person to reach the South Pole. He also explored the icy lands near the North Pole. Many people call him one of the greatest polar explorers ever.

Race to the South Pole

In 1910, Amundsen set sail on a ship called the Fram. He wanted to reach the South Pole first. A British explorer named Robert Scott was also trying to get there. Amundsen used sled dogs to pull his gear across the ice. He and his team reached the South Pole on December 14, 1911. They planted a Norwegian flag in the snow. They got there about five weeks before Scott.

Other Big Adventures

Amundsen did many other amazing things. He was the first to sail all the way through the Northwest Passage. That is a tricky sea route at the top of North America. Later, he flew over the North Pole in a big airship called the Norge. This made him one of the first people to see both poles. He lost his life in 1928 while trying to save a friend in the Arctic.

Fun Facts

• Amundsen slept outside with the windows open as a boy to get his body used to the cold.
• He took 52 sled dogs with him on his trip to the South Pole.
• He learned how to live in icy lands by spending time with the Inuit people.

Did You Know?

Amundsen is the only person known to have reached both the South Pole and the North Pole in the early days of exploration.