Antarctica is the world's southernmost continent. It is also the coldest and driest place on earth. It contains approximately 90% of the world's total ice. If this was to melt it the world's oceans would rise by over 50 metres. Antarctica is also much colder than the Arctic, with an average annual temperature of -50C. Because it is so cold there is very little rain making Antarctica the world's largest desert.

Desonie, Dana 2008, Polar regions: human impacts, Chelsea House, New York.

You can find the South Pole on a map at 90 degrees south, and it is only a very special band of explorers who will ever get there. Early in the 20th century a group of explorers from all around the world - Britain, Norway, and Australia - risked their lives to penetrate as far as they could in this harsh, cold world. 

Captain Robert Falcon Scott was an officer in the Royal Navy, who had joined his first ship at the age of 13. Scott led two expeditions to Antarctica.  The first between 1991-1904, was the first to time that the Antarctic had been explored extensively for zoological and geological purposes.

In 1920, Scott sailed on another scientific voyage, this time in the Terra Nova .  Scott was determined to be the first explorer to reach the South Pole.  Scott achieved his dream to reach the South Pole on the 17-18 January 1912.  However, it was a bittersweet moment as the Norwegian Roald Amundsen had got there first.

The 800-mile journey back to base camp was to prove fatal for all five members of the Scott's party.  

Royal Museum Greenwich, Captain Robert Scott

'Had we lived, I should have had a tale to tell of the hardihood, endurance and courage of my companions which would have stirred the heart of every Englishman. These rough notes and our dead bodies must tell the tale.' 

Robert Falcon Scott, The Diary of Captain Robert Falcon Scott