Who was the first explorer to reach the South Pole?

• A. Robert Falcon Scott
• B. Ernest Shackleton
• C. James Clark Ross
• D. Roald Amundsen

Answer: (D)

The key point is identifying who first reached the geographic South Pole. Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian explorer, led the first successful South Pole expedition in 1911. He planned carefully, used dog-powered sledges, and chose a route across the interior that culminated in reaching the Pole on December 14, 1911, ahead of the rival British party. This landmark beat Robert Falcon Scott’s team, which reached the Pole in January 1912 and then faced a fatal return. Shackleton’s voyage aimed to cross Antarctica but did not reach the Pole, and James Clark Ross explored parts of Antarctica earlier but did not arrive at the Pole itself. So, Amundsen is the first to achieve this milestone.