Fram drift

Fridtjof Nansen · 1893 CE – 1896 CE · Earth

Reach the North Pole by drifting with the ice.

Historical context

Nansen bet that a ship frozen into the Arctic pack would drift with the currents toward the pole. The Fram was built to be lifted by the ice rather than crushed by it.

The voyage, step by step

1. The Fram sets out

   1893 CE

   Nansen sails north intending to freeze his ship into the ice and drift toward the pole.

2. Frozen into the pack

   1894 CE

   The Fram is lifted by the ice rather than crushed, and begins its slow drift.

3. Farthest north

   1895 CE

   Leaving the ship, Nansen and Johansen reach a record northern latitude on foot.

4. Rescue in Franz Josef Land

   1896 CE

   After a winter in a stone hut, they are found by a British expedition.

Outcome

Drifted across the Arctic and set a farthest-north record.

Fridtjof Nansen

Norwegian scientist and explorer who crossed Greenland on skis and drifted the Fram across the Arctic Ocean.

Read on Wikipedia

Sources

• Fridtjof Nansen — Wikipedia

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