The shipwreck of the boat “Quest,” used in Ernest Shackleton’s final voyage, has been discovered on the ocean floor.
Shackleton is a famous explorer and led many missions to Antarctica in the early 1900s. Although he died in 1922, his boat continued to sail until it sank in 1962.
Ernest Shackleton was born in Ireland in 1874 and moved to London with his family. At 16, he joined the merchant navy, sparking his love for adventure. Shackleton wanted to explore the North and South Poles, areas that were largely unknown at the time.
In 1901, Shackleton and fellow explorer Robert Falcon Scott traveled closer to the South Pole than any European had before. The South Pole is extremely cold and covered in snow, making it hard to navigate. During Shackleton’s time, explorers had to carry heavy equipment, unlike the advanced gear used today.
Shackleton led several challenging missions to Antarctica, contributing valuable knowledge for future explorers. This era is known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration due to the significant discoveries made despite dangerous conditions.
One of Shackleton’s most famous missions involved the ship “Endurance,” which got trapped in ice in 1915. Shackleton and his crew survived on floating ice until help arrived. In 1916, Shackleton and five crew members traveled 1,300 km to South Georgia Island, miraculously surviving the journey. The wreck of the Endurance was found in 2022.
Shackleton’s last expedition was aboard the “Quest” in 1922. He intended to explore Alaska but ended up returning to the South Pole. Shackleton died during this voyage. The “Quest” continued its journeys but ultimately sank in 1962. Now, its discovery marks another chapter in the story of this legendary explorer.
