The Terra Nova Expedition (1910–1913), officially the British Antarctic Expedition 1910, was led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott. It is best remembered for the tragic fate of Scott and his polar party, but it also achieved a huge amount scientifically and geographically.

Here’s a clear breakdown:

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🔹 Main Goals of the Expedition
1. Reach the South Pole before any rival nation.
2. Conduct scientific research in geology, biology, meteorology, and glaciology.
3. Explore unknown parts of Antarctica, especially the Ross Sea region and the polar plateau.

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🔹 Achievements

1. The South Pole (1912)
• Scott’s polar party (Scott, Edward Wilson, Henry Bowers, Lawrence Oates, and Edgar Evans) reached the South Pole on 17 January 1912.
• They found the Norwegian flag: Roald Amundsen had beaten them by 34 days.
• All five men died on the return journey, but their records survived.

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2. Geological and Scientific Discoveries
• The expedition brought back over 2,100 biological and geological specimens.
• The most famous were fossil plants from the Beardmore Glacier (discovered by Wilson, Bowers, and Apsley Cherry-Garrard on the “worst journey in the world” sledge trip).
• These fossils proved that Antarctica once had a warm climate and was part of Gondwana, the ancient supercontinent.
• They conducted pioneering studies of Antarctic weather, ice formation, and marine life.

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3. The “Worst Journey in the World” (Winter 1911)
• Apsley Cherry-Garrard, Wilson, and Bowers undertook a winter sledging journey to Cape Crozier to collect emperor penguin eggs, hoping they would shed light on bird evolution.
• The journey was done in total darkness, with temperatures below –60°C.
• They nearly died, but succeeded, and brought back three eggs (still in the Natural History Museum, London).

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4. Exploration and Mapping
• Large sections of the Ross Ice Shelf and Victoria Land coast were mapped in detail.
• The Western Party (led by Griffith Taylor) surveyed the Dry Valleys, one of the most unique Antarctic landscapes, still studied today.
• Geologists also examined Mount Erebus, glaciers, and volcanic formations.

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5. Legacy of Heroism and Tragedy
• Scott’s final diary, recording the deaths of Oates (“I am just going outside and may be some time”) and his companions, became legendary.
• Their endurance and devotion to science inspired generations, even though their polar race was lost.

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✅ In Summary

The Terra Nova expedition:
• Reached the South Pole, though second to Amundsen.
• Conducted outstanding scientific research, especially geology and biology.
• Mapped and explored major parts of the Ross Sea region.
• Collected crucial fossil evidence proving Antarctica’s ancient link to other continents.
• Produced one of the most enduring stories of human courage and tragedy in exploration history.

Here’s a timeline of the Terra Nova Expedition (1910–1913) showing the major journeys and outcomes.

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🌍 Timeline of the Terra Nova Expedition

1910
• June 15 – Terra Nova sails from Cardiff, Wales.
• November 29 – Terra Nova reaches Cape Evans, Ross Island, where Scott establishes the main base hut.

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1911
• January – March – Depot-laying journey: Scott, Wilson, Meares, and others haul supplies south across the Ross Ice Shelf, laying depots to support the future Pole attempt.
• April – August (Antarctic Winter)
• Men confined to Cape Evans hut.
• June – August: The “Worst Journey in the World”
• Wilson, Bowers, and Cherry-Garrard trek 60 miles in darkness and –60°C to Cape Crozier.
• Collect emperor penguin eggs for evolutionary study.
• Nearly die, but return with 3 eggs.
• October – November – Start of summer sledging journeys:
• Western Party (Griffith Taylor, Debenham, Wright, Priestley) explores the Dry Valleys and Ferrar Glacier.
• Northern Party (Campbell, Levick, Priestley, Abbott, Browning, Dickason) explores the coast of Victoria Land.

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1911–1912: The Push to the Pole
• November 1911 – Scott departs Cape Evans with a large supporting party.
• December 1911 – Successive support groups turn back. Final polar party of five chosen:
• Robert Falcon Scott
• Edward Wilson
• Henry Bowers
• Lawrence Oates
• Edgar Evans

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1912
• January 17 – Polar Party reaches the South Pole; find Amundsen’s tent and Norwegian flag.
• February 17 – Evans dies at the foot of Beardmore Glacier (likely from head injury + scurvy).
• March 16–17 – Oates sacrifices himself, walking into a blizzard: “I am just going outside and may be some time.”
• March 29 – Scott, Wilson, and Bowers die in their tent, ~11 miles from a supply depot.

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1912–1913: Stranded Parties
• Northern Party (Campbell, Levick, Priestley, Abbott, Browning, Dickason)
• Trapped by ice, unable to rejoin Terra Nova.
• Survive 7 months in an ice cave at Cape Adare with almost no food or fuel.
• Finally rescued by Terra Nova in January 1913.
• Western Party returns with valuable geological collections, including the famous Glossopteris plant fossils.

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1913
• January 18 – Terra Nova departs Antarctica with survivors.
• February – Expedition news reaches the world: Scott and his men are dead, but their records and specimens are safe.

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✅ Key Outcomes
• South Pole reached (second to Amundsen).
• Scientific success: fossils, geology, biology, meteorology.
• Exploration: Dry Valleys, Victoria Land, Mount Erebus.
• Heroism & tragedy: Scott’s polar party and the Northern Party’s survival ordeal became legendary.