Transglobe Expedition
Encyclopedia
In 1979, adventurers Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Charles R. Burton
set out to make the first circumpolar navigation, traveling the world "vertically" traversing both of the poles. Starting from Greenwich
in the United Kingdom
, they went south, arriving at the South Pole
on December 17, 1980. Over the next 14 months, they went north again, reaching the North Pole
on April 11, 1982. Travelling south once more, they arrived again in Greenwich on August 29, 1982.
Oliver Shepard
took part in the Antarctic leg of the expedition.
Ran and Charlie Burton completed the Northwest Passage
. They left Tuktoyaktuk on 26th July 1981, in the 18 ft open Boston Whaler and reached Tanquary Fiord
, 36 days later, on 31st August 1981. Their journey was the first open boat transit of the Northwest Passage from West to East, and covered around 3000 mi (2,606.9 nmi; 4,828 km), taking a route through Dolphin and Union Strait
following the South coast of Victoria and King William
Islands, North, via Franklin Strait
and Peel Sound
, to Resolute Bay
(on the southern side of Cornwallis Island), around the South and East coasts of Devon Island
, through Hell Gate (near Cardigan Strait
) and across Norwegian Bay
to Eureka
, Greely Bay and the head of Tanquary Fiord
.
Between Tuktoyaktuk and Tanquary Fiord they travelled at an average speed of around 80 mi (69.5 nmi; 128.7 km) per day.
It is worth pointing out that once they reached Tanquary Fiord they had to trek 150 mi (130.3 nmi; 241.4 km) overland, via Lake Hazen
, to Alert
, before setting up their winter base camp.
Charles R. Burton
Charles Robert Burton was a British explorer. He took part in the Transglobe Expedition, the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe from pole to pole.Burton was born in Cape Town, South Africa...
set out to make the first circumpolar navigation, traveling the world "vertically" traversing both of the poles. Starting from Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, they went south, arriving at the South Pole
South Pole
The South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole or Terrestrial South Pole, is one of the two points where the Earth's axis of rotation intersects its surface. It is the southernmost point on the surface of the Earth and lies on the opposite side of the Earth from the North Pole...
on December 17, 1980. Over the next 14 months, they went north again, reaching the North Pole
North Pole
The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is, subject to the caveats explained below, defined as the point in the northern hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface...
on April 11, 1982. Travelling south once more, they arrived again in Greenwich on August 29, 1982.
Oliver Shepard
Oliver Shepard
Oliver Shepard is a British explorer. He participated in the Transglobe Expedition, the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe from pole to pole....
took part in the Antarctic leg of the expedition.
Northwest Passage
As part of the Transglobe ExpeditionTransglobe Expedition
In 1979, adventurers Sir Ranulph Fiennes and Charles R. Burton set out to make the first circumpolar navigation, traveling the world "vertically" traversing both of the poles. Starting from Greenwich in the United Kingdom, they went south, arriving at the South Pole on December 17, 1980. Over the...
Ran and Charlie Burton completed the Northwest Passage
Northwest Passage
The Northwest Passage is a sea route through the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of North America via waterways amidst the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans...
. They left Tuktoyaktuk on 26th July 1981, in the 18 ft open Boston Whaler and reached Tanquary Fiord
Tanquary Fiord
Tanquary Fiord is a fjord on the north coast of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago's Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada. It is located in the Quttinirpaaq National Park and extends 30 miles in a north-westerly direction.- History :...
, 36 days later, on 31st August 1981. Their journey was the first open boat transit of the Northwest Passage from West to East, and covered around 3000 mi (2,606.9 nmi; 4,828 km), taking a route through Dolphin and Union Strait
Dolphin and Union Strait
Dolphin and Union Strait lies in both the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, Canada, between the mainland and Victoria Island. It links Amundsen Gulf, lying to the northwest, with Coronation Gulf, lying to the southeast...
following the South coast of Victoria and King William
King William Island
King William Island is an island in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut and forms part of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. In area it is between and making it the 61st largest island in the world and Canada's 15th largest island...
Islands, North, via Franklin Strait
Franklin Strait
The Franklin Strait is an Arctic waterway in Northern Canada's territory of Nunavut. Its located between southeastern Prince of Wales Island and the Boothia Peninsula.- References :...
and Peel Sound
Peel Sound
Peel Sound is an uninhabited Arctic waterway in the Qikiqtaaluk, Nunavut, Canada. It is located between eastern Prince of Wales Island and northwestern Somerset Island, while Parry Channel is at the northern opening and Franklin Strait is at the southern opening.There are several named islands...
, to Resolute Bay
Resolute Bay
Resolute Bay is an Arctic waterway in Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada. It is located in Parry Channel on the southern side of Cornwallis Island. The hamlet of Resolute is located on the northern shore of the bay and Resolute Bay Airport to the northwest...
(on the southern side of Cornwallis Island), around the South and East coasts of Devon Island
Devon Island
Devon Island , claimed to be the largest uninhabited island on Earth, is located in Baffin Bay, Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada. It is one of the larger members of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, the second-largest of the Queen Elizabeth Islands, Canada's sixth largest island, and the 27th...
, through Hell Gate (near Cardigan Strait
Cardigan Strait
Cardigan Strait is a narrow waterway in the territory of Nunavut. It lies between the eastern coast of Devon Island and the western coast of Ellesmere Island. Norwegian Bay opens to the north....
) and across Norwegian Bay
Norwegian Bay
Norwegian Bay is an Arctic ocean waterway in Qikiqtaaluk Region. Nunavut, Canada. Amund Ringnes Island is to the northwest , and Axel Heiberg Island to the north , Ellesmere Island is to the east, and Devon Island is to the south...
to Eureka
Eureka, Nunavut
Eureka is a small research base on Fosheim Peninsula, Ellesmere Island, Qikiqtaaluk Region, in the Canadian territory of Nunavut. It is located on the north side of Slidre Fiord, which enters Eureka Sound farther west. It is the second-northernmost permanent research community in the world. The...
, Greely Bay and the head of Tanquary Fiord
Tanquary Fiord
Tanquary Fiord is a fjord on the north coast of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago's Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada. It is located in the Quttinirpaaq National Park and extends 30 miles in a north-westerly direction.- History :...
.
Between Tuktoyaktuk and Tanquary Fiord they travelled at an average speed of around 80 mi (69.5 nmi; 128.7 km) per day.
It is worth pointing out that once they reached Tanquary Fiord they had to trek 150 mi (130.3 nmi; 241.4 km) overland, via Lake Hazen
Lake Hazen
Lake Hazen is often called the northernmost lake of Canada, in the northern part of Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, but detailed maps show several smaller lakes up to more than farther north on Canada's northernmost island. Turnabout Lake is immediately northeast of the northern end of Hazen lake...
, to Alert
Alert, Nunavut
Alert, in the Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada, is the northernmost permanently inhabited place in the world, from the North Pole. It takes its name from HMS Alert, which wintered east of the present station, off what is now Cape Sheridan, in 1875–1876.Alert was reported to have five permanent...
, before setting up their winter base camp.