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Cruising the Oslo Fjord for polar history
One hundred years to the day after Amundsen and his crew left for the South Pole, a ship full of researchers and polar teachers were headed for his point of departure in Svartskog, Oslo.
Accompanied by the scenic view of Oslo, 250 polar teachers and early career scientists from The PolarTEACHERS conference and APECS workshop went on a cruise on The Oslo Fjord with the ship "S/S Lady Mack”.
Their final destination was the home of polar explorer Roald Amundsen, in Svartskog by the Oslo Fjord.
Photo: John Petter Reinertsen/ Samfoto
Spirits were high on board the "Lady Mack".
Anniversary in Svartskog
At Amundsen’s house a group of people, among them the descendants of the crew that had left Oslo for the South Pole 100 years earlier, attended a formal dinner to celebrate the 100th anniversary.
Among those who also attended the dinner, was Chair of the IPY Oslo Science Conference Steering Committee, Dr. Olav Orheim.
Orheim, came aboard "Lady Mack" in Svartskog, and shared the tale of Amundsen and his expedition to the South Pole with the rest of the cruise passengers. 
Photo: John Petter Reinertsen/ Samfoto
Roald Amundsens house in Svartskog. Today it is possible to make a visit at the house. The house remains exactly as it was when Amundsen left for the South Pole.
No one knew
Olav Orheim told the tale of how Amundsen, after crossing the Nortwest Passage, had made plans to go to the North Pole and explore the North Polar Basin. Amundsen had problems raising funds for the departure, and upon hearing in 1909 that first Frederick Cook and the Robert Peary claimed the Pole, he decided to reroute to Antarctica. 
Photo: John Petter Reinertsen/ Samfoto
Olav Orheim tells the tale of Amundsens departure to the South Pole.
- However, Orheim said, he did not make these plans known to either the Englishman Robert F. Scott or the Norwegians.
Using the ship Fram, which had been used and was owned by Fridtjof Nansen, he left Norway for the south, in June 1910. At Madeira, Amundsen finally alerted his men that they were in fact heading to Antarctica. He also sent a telegram to Scott notifying him simply: "BEG TO INFORM YOU FRAM PROCEEDING ANTARCTIC--AMUNDSEN.” 
Photo: John Petter Reinertsen/ Samfoto
Silje Hegg on her self-made flute and Ingebjørg H. Bratland on vocals spellbound the audience with Norwegian folk music.
Photo: John Petter Reinertsen/ Samfoto
Polar explorer Liv Arnesen made a surprise visit, and shared some of her plans for her next expedition.
Last updated: 08.06.2010
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