"Where on such an earth are men who walk like gods?"

Dates	Country	Expedition Name(s)	Ship(s)	Leader	Expedition summary	Refs
1897–99	Belgium	Belgian Antarctic Expedition	Belgica	Gerlache, Adrien deAdrien de Gerlache	This was the first expedition to overwinter within the Antarctic Circle, after the ship was icebound in the Bellingshausen Sea. It collected the first annual cycle of Antarctic observations. It also reached 71°30'S, and discovered the Gerlache Strait.	[15][2][16]
1898–1900	UK	British Antarctic Expedition 1898 (Southern Cross Expedition)	Southern Cross	Borchgrevink, CarstenCarsten Borchgrevink	The first expedition to overwinter on the Antarctic mainland (Cape Adare), it was the first to make use of dogs and sledges. It made the first ascent of Great Ice Barrier,[17] and set a Farthest South record at 78°30'S. It also calculated the location of the South Magnetic Pole.	[18][19][20]
1901–04	UK	National Antarctic Expedition 1901 (Discovery Expedition)	Discovery Morning (relief ship) Terra Nova (relief ship)	Scott, Robert FalconRobert Falcon Scott	It made the first ascent of the Western Mountains in Victoria Land, and discovered the polar plateau. Its southern journey set a new Farthest South record, 82°17'S.[21] Many other geographical features were discovered, mapped and named. This was the first of several expeditions based in McMurdo Sound.	[22][23][24]
1901–03	Germany	First German Antarctic Expedition (Gauss Expedition)	Gauss	Drygalski, Erich vonErich von Drygalski	The first expedition to investigate eastern Antarctica, it discovered the coast of Kaiser Wilhelm II Land, and Mount Gauss. The expedition's ship became trapped in ice, which prevented more extensive exploration.	[25][26][27]
1901–03	Sweden	Swedish Antarctic Expedition	Antarctic	Nordenskiöld, OttoOtto Nordenskiöld	This expedition worked in the east coastal area of Graham Land, and was marooned on Snow Hill Island and Paulet Island in the Weddell Sea, after the sinking of its expedition ship. It was rescued by the Argentinian naval vessel Uruguay.	[28][29][30]
1902–04	UK	Scottish National Antarctic Expedition	Scotia	Bruce, William SpeirsWilliam Speirs Bruce	The permanent Orcadas weather station in South Orkney Islands was established. The Weddell Sea was penetrated to 74°01'S, and the coastline of Coats Land was discovered, defining the sea's eastern limits.	[31][32]
1903–05	France	Third French Antarctic Expedition	Français	Charcot, Jean-BaptisteJean-Baptiste Charcot	Originally intended as a relief expedition for the stranded Nordenskiöld party, the main work of this expedition was the mapping and charting of islands and the western coasts of Graham Land, on the Antarctic peninsula. A section of the coast was explored, and named Loubet Land after the President of France.	[33][34][35]
1907–09	UK	British Antarctic Expedition 1907 (Nimrod Expedition)	Nimrod	Shackleton, ErnestErnest Shackleton	The first expedition led by Shackleton. Based in McMurdo Sound, it pioneered the Beardmore Glacier route to the South Pole, and the (limited) use of motorised transport. Its southern march reached 88°23'S, a new Farthest South record 97 geographical miles from the Pole. The Northern Party reached the location of the South Magnetic Pole.	[36][37][38]
1908–10	France	Fourth French Antarctic Expedition	Pourquoi-Pas? IV	Charcot, Jean-BaptisteJean-Baptiste Charcot	This continued the work of the earlier French expedition with a general exploration of the Bellingshausen Sea, and the discovery of islands and other features, including Marguerite Bay, Charcot Island, Renaud Island, Mikkelsen Bay, Rothschild Island.	[33][39]
1910–12	Japan	Japanese Antarctic Expedition	Kainan Maru	Shirase, NobuNobu Shirase	The first non-European Antarctic expedition carried out a coastal exploration of King Edward VII Land, and investigated the eastern sector of the Great Ice Barrier, reaching 80°5'S.	[40][41]
1910–12	Norway	Amundsen's South Pole expedition	Fram	Amundsen, RoaldRoald Amundsen	First to the South Pole: Amundsen set up camp on the Great Ice Barrier, at the Bay of Whales. He discovered a new route to the polar plateau via the Axel Heiberg Glacier. A party of five led by Amundsen reached the South Pole via this route on 15 December 1911.	[42][43][44]
1910–13	UK	British Antarctic Expedition 1910 (Terra Nova Expedition)	Terra Nova	Scott, Robert FalconRobert Falcon Scott†	Scott's last expedition, based like his first in McMurdo Sound. Scott and four companions reached the South Pole via the Beardmore route on 17 January 1912, 33 days after Amundsen. All five died on the return journey from the Pole, through a combination of starvation and cold.	[45][46][47]
1911–13	Germany	Second German Antarctic Expedition	Deutschland	Filchner, WilhelmWilhelm Filchner	The objective was the first crossing of Antarctica. The expedition made the southernmost Weddell Sea penetration to date, reaching 77°45'S, and discovering Luitpold Coast, Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf, and Vahsel Bay. It failed to establish a shore base from which to mount its transcontinental march, and after a long drift in the Weddell Sea pack ice it returned to South Georgia.	[30][48][49]
1911–14	Australia	Australasian Antarctic Expedition	Aurora	Mawson, DouglasDouglas Mawson	The expedition concentrated on the stretch of Antarctic coastline between Cape Adare and Mount Gauss, carrying out mapping and survey work on coastal and inland territories. Discoveries included Commonwealth Bay, Ninnis Glacier, Mertz Glacier, and Queen Mary Land.	[50][51]
1914–17	UK	Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition	Endurance	Shackleton, ErnestErnest Shackleton	Another transcontinental crossing attempt. It failed to land the Weddell Sea shore party after Endurance was trapped and crushed in ice. The expedition then rescued itself after a series of exploits, including a prolonged drift on an ice-floe, Shackleton's open boat journey, and the first crossing of South Georgia.	[52][53]
1914–17	UK	Ross Sea party In support of Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition	Aurora	Mackintosh, AeneasAeneas Mackintosh†	Its objective was to lay depots across the Great Ice Barrier, to supply the party crossing from the Weddell Sea. All the required depots were laid, but in the process three men, including the leader Mackintosh, lost their lives.	[54]
1921–22	UK	Shackleton–Rowett Expedition	Quest	Shackleton, ErnestErnest Shackleton†	Vaguely defined objectives included coastal mapping, a possible continental circumnavigation, the investigation of sub-Antarctic islands, and oceanographic work. After Shackleton's death on 5 January 1922, Quest completed a shortened programme before returning home.	[55][56]