68 | Viking Explorer Society News
T
he Arctic, located in the
northernmost part of the Earth,
has a rich and intriguing history.
Consisting mainly of the Arctic
Ocean, as well as portions of land belonging
to Canada, Greenland, Russia, Norway,
Sweden, Finland, Iceland and the USA. The
North Pole is right at it's heart, permanently
covered in sea ice and located 690 km north
of the northern tip of Greenland.
For centuries, an enduring fascination with
the Arctic has driven explorers to the North
Pole, with man attempting to take on
nature and reach the top of the world,
risking life and limb in doing so.
Historical records indicate that the
exploration of the Arctic Ocean dates back
as far as 325 BC when the ancient Greek
sailor Pytheas embarked on a voyage to
discover the source of tin metal. Along his
arduous journey, Pytheas encountered a
frozen sea, which is believed to be the Arctic
Ocean. This early discovery sparked a
fascination with the polar regions, igniting
the imaginations of subsequent generations
of pioneers, adventurers, and explorers.
During the 19th and 20th centuries,
European and American explorers embarked
on daring expeditions, driven by a fervent
desire to conquer the frozen tundra and
unlock the secrets of the Arctic. Renowned
explorers such as John Cabot, Henry
Hudson, and James Cook ventured forth in
search of the elusive Northwest Passage—a
fabled waterway that would provide a direct
route between the Atlantic and Pacific
e Arctic
H I S T O R Y
Tales of Polar exploration that date back to 325 BC.
