The most impressive photos of Antarctica at the beginning of the XX century

James Francis Hurley, known as Frank Hurley, is the most famous Australian photographer and adventurer of the first half of the XX century. His career began in the 1910s during an expedition to Antarctica, where he showed himself "a warrior with a camera, ready to go anywhere and endure any hardships just to get a good picture."

We have collected the most popular photos of Antarctica created by Frank Hurley.

In October 1914, a few months after the outbreak of the First World War, explorer Sir Shackleton assembled an expedition to Antarctica, which included photographer Frank Hurley. A group of 27 people with 69 sled dogs set off on a journey from the capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires, on a ship called Endurance ("Endurance").

The researchers intended to cross the already open South Pole on foot for the first time.

However, their ship never reached its intended destination, falling into an ice trap, and his team had to abandon the ship and build tents near Endurance. The travelers found themselves in complete isolation, in those days there were no helicopters, no ships, no other rescue equipment to come to their aid.

In the glaciers of Antarctica, 1914.

Despite everything, fanatically devoted to his work, Frank continued to take pictures.

It's hard to believe, but they managed to escape only after 10 months! The conquerors of Antarctica showed tremendous fortitude and physical endurance, living for many months of exile for communication, hunting…

And even a game of football!

On a collapsing ship.

Despite the constantly low temperature, Frank managed to create a series of unique photographs of the surrounding landscapes and, of course, penguins.

Frozen penguins after a snowfall.

The harsh circumstances of survival made the team members professional seal hunters and fishermen.

Three of the team's 27 people were killed. In the annals of history, this expedition has become an example of the professionalism and endurance of polar explorers who managed to survive in extreme conditions.

Dogs drove them, guarded and warmed them.

A sled dog puppy.

On August 30, all the wintering participants boarded the Yelcho vessel and were rescued. Unfortunately, since the expedition took place during the First World War, it turned out to be almost unnoticed by contemporaries of polar explorers.