Survival on a Sea of Ice

Antarctica, the southernmost continent on Earth, is surrounded by thick sea ice. Temperatures there can dip below –70 degrees Fahrenheit. 

By 1910, Shackleton had already been on two Antarctic expeditions. His third voyage began when the Endurance departed from England in August 1914. 

As the crew got closer to Antarctica, the trip became more difficult. The Endurance slowly sailed through cracks in the frozen sea until it could no longer move. As one crew member put it, the ship was “frozen, like an almond in the middle of a chocolate bar.”

When the crew was finally forced to leave the ship, they took food, equipment, and three lifeboats with them. They set up camp on the sea ice. The goal of the trip had changed—from exploration to survival. 

Antarctica is the southernmost continent on Earth. It is surrounded by thick sea ice. Temperatures there can dip below -70 degrees Fahrenheit. 

By 1910, Shackleton had already been on two Antarctic expeditions. His third voyage began when the Endurance departed from England in August 1914. 

As the crew got closer to Antarctica, the trip became more difficult. The Endurance slowly sailed through cracks in the frozen sea. It sailed until it could no longer move. One crew member later described the frozen ship. He said it was “frozen, like an almond in the middle of a chocolate bar.”

When the crew was finally forced to leave the ship, they took food and equipment. They also brought three lifeboats with them. They set up camp on the sea ice. The goal of the trip had changed—from exploration to survival. 

Months later, in April 1916, the ice under their camp began to split. Shackleton ordered his crew into the lifeboats. They battled waves for days before arriving on uninhabited Elephant Island. 

Shackleton worried that his crew wouldn’t survive another winter. He was determined to find a ship they could use to escape. So he and five men set out for South Georgia Island—more than 800 miles away.

Shackleton made it to the island 16 days later. But ice, bad weather, and other delays kept him from returning quickly. Finally, on August 30, 1916, Shackleton arrived back at Elephant Island with a boat big enough to rescue the rest of his crew. Amazingly, all of the men had survived!

Months later, in April 1916, the ice under their camp began to split. Shackleton ordered his crew into the lifeboats. They battled waves for days. Then they arrived on uninhabited Elephant Island. 

Shackleton worried that his crew wouldn’t survive another winter. He was determined to find a ship they could use to escape. So he and five men set out for South Georgia Island. It was more than 800 miles away.

Shackleton made it to the island 16 days later. But ice, bad weather, and other delays kept him from returning quickly. Finally, on August 30, 1916, Shackleton arrived back at Elephant Island. He had a boat big enough to rescue the rest of his crew. Amazingly, all the men had survived!

Shackleton died in 1922. A hundred years later, this past March, two robotic submarines located his long-lost ship on the seafloor. John Shears led the expedition, known as Endurance22. He was amazed by the images that showed the wreckage in near-perfect condition. Like the ship itself, the spirit of Shackleton lives on. 

“He was an amazing man to be able to lead people through that sort of hardship,” Shears says.

Shackleton died in 1922. A hundred years later, this past March, two robotic submarines located his long-lost ship on the seafloor. John Shears led the expedition, known as Endurance22. He was amazed by the images he saw. They showed the wreckage in near-perfect condition. Like the ship itself, the spirit of Shackleton lives on. 

“He was an amazing man to be able to lead people through that sort of hardship,” Shears says.

1. The article says that earlier this year, the story of Shackleton’s expedition “got a new chapter.” What does this mean?
2. Why did Shackleton and his crew leave the Endurance before reaching land?
   
3. Why does the author write that “the goal of the trip had changed”? 

1. The article says that earlier this year, the story of Shackleton’s expedition “got a new chapter.” What does this mean?
2. Why did Shackleton and his crew leave the Endurance before reaching land?
   
3. Why does the author write that “the goal of the trip had changed”?