Scientists say they have found the sunken wreck of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance, more than a century after it was lost to the Antarctic ice
LONDON - Scientists say they have found the sunken wreck of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton's ship Endurance, more than a century after it was lost in Antarctic ice.
The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust states that the vessel lies 3,000 meters (10,000 ft) below the surface of the Weddell Sea, about 6.4 kilometers (four miles) south of the location recorded by its captain Frank Worsley in 1915.
An expedition began last month from South Africa to find the ship, which was crushed by ice and sank in November 1915.
Mensun Bound, director of exploration for the Endurance 22 expedition, said footage showed the ship was in remarkably good condition.
"It's the best wooden ship I've ever seen," he said. "It's straight, proud (obvious) of the seashore, intact, and in a splendid state of preservation. Even you 'endurance' across the stern, soaring directly under the taffle can see."
Shackleton's 1914-16 attempt to become the first person to cross Antarctica via the South Pole failed—he never set foot on the continent. But his successful bid to reach help and save his men at a remote South Atlantic whaling station is considered a heroic feat of endurance. All the men survived and were rescued several months later.
The expedition to find the ship comes 100 years after Shackleton's death in 1922.
British historian and broadcaster Dan Snow, who accompanied the expedition, tweeted that Endurance was found on Saturday, "100 years since Shackleton was buried."
He said the wreckage was filmed but would not be touched.
"Nothing touched on the wreckage," he said. "Nothing was found. It was surveyed using the latest equipment and its status confirmed. It is protected by the Antarctic Treaty. Nor did we want to tamper with it."