Lecture: The Belgica Antarctic Expedition 1897 - 1899

Speaker: Gerhard H. Ehlers, Hönow b. Berlin

Only two years after the memorable 6th International Geographical Congress in London, at which it was decided to explore the Antarctic with all available means, the steam sailing ship BELGICA set sail from Antwerp for the Antarctic in August 1897 under the Belgian flag. The ship was a converted seal catcher, which now caused a sensation as an expedition ship. The expedition was led by the Belgian Adrien de Gerlache de Gomery. The second officer on board was the then still young and unknown Roald Amundsen.

Gerhard H. Ehlers will talk about what the expedition members experienced during their journey and what problems they had to overcome on February 26 at 4 p.m. on the traditional ship.

The BELGICA expedition marked the beginning of the Golden Age of Antarctic research and laid the foundations for further exploration of the Antarctic, as it was discovered for the first time that it was an independent continent covered by an ice sheet.

Please register at info@schifffahrtsmuseum-rostock.de or 0381-12831364!