He died at his Brighton home on 14 October 1958 from a cerebral haemorrhage . He was 76 years old. At the time of his death he had still not completed editorial work on all the papers resulting from his expedition, and this was completed by his eldest daughter, Patricia, only in 1975.
What problems did Sir Douglas Mawson face?
Three times Ninnis almost plunged into concealed cracks in the ice. Mawson was suffering from a split lip that sent shafts of pain shooting across the left side of his face . Ninnis had a bout of snow-blindness and developed an abcess at the tip of one finger.
What happened to Douglas Mawson?
Mawson died at his Brighton home on 14 October 1958 following cerebral haemorrhage .
When did Douglas Mawson retire?
The work done by the expedition led to the formation of the Australian Antarctic Territory in 1936. He also spent much of his time researching the geology of the northern Flinders Ranges. On retirement from teaching in 1952 , he was made Emeritus Professor. He died in 1958.
Why was Mawson forced to stay in Antarctica for another?
By the start of February, Mawson had reached an ice cave his team had named “Aladdin’s Cave”, just 5km from Commonwealth Bay. ... Mawson had arrived too late for the boat that could have taken him home. As a result, he had to stay in Antarctica, along with five colleagues, for an extra year.
How did Mawson and Mertz survive?
After Ninnis and a sledge carrying most of the food disappeared down a crevasse, 311 miles (500 km) from the expedition’s main hut, Mertz and Mawson headed back west, gradually using the dogs to supplement their remaining food stocks. About 100 miles (160 km) from safety, Mertz died , leaving Mawson to carry on alone.
Who Discovered Antarctica?
The race to find Antarctica sparked competition to locate the South Pole —and stoked another rivalry. Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen found it on December 14, 1911. Just over a month later, Robert Falcon Scott found it, too. He turned back with disastrous results.
What did Sir Douglas Mawson discover?
Sir Douglas Mawson is one of Australia’s best known Antarctic explorers. His personal Antarctic achievements include discovering the location of the south magnetic pole as part of Shackleton’s Nimrod Expedition, and organizing and leading the first true scientific expedition to Antarctica.
Why is Sir Douglas Mawson important?
From 1911 to 1914 Mawson led the Australasian Antarctic Expedition and from 1929 to 1931 directed the combined British, Australian, and New Zealand Antarctic Expedition. His explorations enabled Australia to claim some 2,500,000 square miles (6,475,000 square km) of the Antarctic continent.
Who went with Mawson to Antarctica?
Embarking on the Australasian Antarctic Expedition (AAE) with Mawson, John King Davis captained the Aurora with a crew, 31 expeditioners and materials for living huts, and wireless masts to establish the first radio communications in Antarctica.
Did Mawson eat Mertz?
But the real story behind it may have been much darker, according to a new book by an award-wining historian, David Day, who suggests Mawson deliberately starved Mertz to death – and then boiled up his flesh and ate it. ... As he and Mertz began the long trek back, Mawson drastically cut their rations.
How old is Douglas Mawson?
He died at his Brighton home on 14 October 1958 from a cerebral haemorrhage. He was 76 years old . At the time of his death he had still not completed editorial work on all the papers resulting from his expedition, and this was completed by his eldest daughter, Patricia, only in 1975.
Is Antarctica an Australian territory?
The Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT) covers nearly 5.9 million square kilometres. That’s about 42% of Antarctica . The area is nearly 80% of the size of Australia itself.
What are some of the dangers that Antarctic explorers faced?
Explorers in Antarctica face many challenges. Extreme cold, lack of water, severe windstorms and treacherous crevasses are obvious physical dangers. Less obvious are the problems of boredom, isolation and loneliness.
What continent is located in the South Pole?
Its latitude is 90 degrees south, and all lines of longitude meet there (as well as at the North Pole, on the opposite end of the Earth). The South Pole is located on Antarctica , one of the Earth’s seven continents.
