Which polar explorer are you?

From Shackleton to Scott, discover history’s greatest polar explorers and find out which is most like you

By Google Arts & Culture

Shackleton's hut on Cape Royds (2007) by Lin PadghamCyArk

The icy, unforgiving atmosphere of the Earth's poles would send most of us scrabbling back to the warmth and comfort of home, but for some intrepid explorers, they represent an irresistible call to explore the furthest reaches of our planet and test the limits of human endurance.

Scroll on to take a journey to the wildest frontiers and learn about the people who first tackled them. Which one is most like you?

LIFE Photo Collection

Are you someone who never knows when they’re beaten?

Por Shackleton Sir ErnestLIFE Photo Collection

You’re Sir Ernest Shackleton

In 1914, together with a crew of 27 Shackleton hoped to be the first to traverse the Antarctic. Their vessel Endurance became trapped in the ice and the expedition had to set up camp. Eventually they reached Elephant Island and sailed a small lifeboat 800 miles to safety, before returning to rescue the remaining men.

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Do you go for glory, no matter the consequences?

LIFE Photo Collection

You're like Robert Falcon Scott!

He reached the South Pole on 17 January 1912, a month after Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen. Exhausted by their efforts, Scott’s crew was hit by a blizzard on the return journey and never made it home. But his legend lives on. 

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Are you way ahead of your time?

LIFE Photo Collection

You’re Eric the Red

A wild Icelander who was always getting into trouble, Eric set off to explore a vast landmass to the east, which turned out to be Greenland. He returned home and managed to convince more than 400 people to join him settling this new land. Oh yes, and he did all this in the 10th century.    

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Do you like to make sure you've ticked every box?

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You’re Roald Amundsen

The first man to reach the South Pole, beating Scott to it by a month in 1911, he was also the first to have visited both North and South Poles, reaching the other in 1926. He was also the first to traverse the Northwest Passage. It’s safe to say Roald liked to be first.    

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Do you like to make bold claims?

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You’re Robert Peary

An American explorer who claimed he had reached the North Pole on an expedition in 1908-1909. His claim remains hotly contested to this day, with some estimating he was actually around 60 miles short of his goal. Nevertheless, Peary remains one of history’s great explorers, so it’s not all bad news.  

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Do you do things slightly differently?

Fridtjof NansenNational Museum, Czech Republic

You’re Fridtjof Nansen

He had some unconventional ideas about polar exploration, believing any ship that stuck in the ice would simply end up at the pole. Determined to prove his theory he set off on his specially designed ship, Fram, got stuck in the ice and remained there for 18 months. He then set off on foot, not quite reaching the pole but setting a record for the furthest travel north.    

Exp Anta Shackleton "Endrance"LIFE Photo Collection

Do you believe you can do it all?

By James BurkeLIFE Photo Collection

You’re Sir Edmund Hillary

Not content with being the first person to reach the summit of Everest, along with Tenzing Norgay, he also visited both Poles, making him the first person to achieve this feat. 

Wonders in the Antarctic Sea and Sky (2017-12-08)NASA

Want to explore for yourself? Take a Street View tour of 11 Stops on a Journey Across Antarctica

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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