H. M. S. Challenger Failure

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The exploration of the ocean or “seas” began with the foreign trade throughout the world. For about ten years leading up to the Civil War, Americans started to see the strategic and economical importance of developing the West Coast and maintaining shipping routes to the Far East. Cultural influence on the United States caused by Europe, Germany, Russia, and China caused Americans to want to expand across the seas. Many American figures like Theodore Roosevelt, Henry Cabot Lodge, and Elihu Root felt that in order to safeguard its interests the United States had to secure the “seas” for economical and political security of the Nation. This led to expeditions by explorers from all around the world during the 50 year period 1870-1920. …show more content…

The expedition was led by the naturalist Louis Agassiz, accompanied by Louis F. de Pourtales. Unfortunately, the hemp dredge line is defective and breaks on every deep dredging attempt. Although deep dredging operations failed the naturalists considered the expedition a success because they collect 30,000 specimens. Also, in that same year George Nares led an expedition on the H.M.S Challenger. It’s mission was to circle the globe conducting research for the Royal Society of London. This expedition laid the groundwork for modern oceanography and the H.M.S Challenger covered 70,000 miles while surveying and …show more content…

So, in 1882 the U.S Fisheries Commission’s Steamer called the Albatross was built. This was the first vessel built by any government in which it’s one and only purpose was to help conduct oceanographic research. The only problem was that the United States did not know what to do on a expedition. This is where America went on its first expedition. This is the first expedition in which two different countries worked together on a expedition. The purpose of this expedition was to establish a meteorological observation station as part of the first international polar year, to collect astronomical data, and polar magnetic data. During this expedition an American and a Russian reached and broke the old “Farthest North” record. This expedition was a success and all of America was happy. After the news of the United States got around to other countries and nations Switzerland wanted to join in too. In 1888, Swiss Zoologist Alexander Agassiz made several expeditions to study coral reefs in the Pacific Ocean. He discovered many new species other than different types of coral. He even brought some never before seen types of fish, found seahorses, and other marine animals that were never. He collected the small unknown animals and brought them back to Switzerland. The swiss people were very glad with their government for collect species never seen before. Over the next

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