Polar Expedition Case Study

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Shackleton and his crew endured and overcame some of the most desperate situations. In this essay we’ll look at just some of the many dire situations they came into contact with and how they persevered. What are polar expeditions? Well polar expeditions are the process of exploring polar areas around the earth, the goal usually being to reach the south or north pole. Challenges of said polar expeditions may include extreme cold, treacherous landscapes including fatal crevasses, lack of water, severe windstorms, keeping morale up and for the leader, making the right decisions in crisis situations. There are many challenges to planning these expeditions like making sure that you have the correct amount of food for the days that the expedition will take place and making sure that those foods provide …show more content…

The equipment must be the appropriate equipment for a polar environment so that the crew can safely traverse the dangerous terrain and seas. Moreover there must be plenty of medical supplies for many possible situations like frostbite for a polar expedition. In addition, the leader of these expeditions must be prepared for the challenges of keeping morale up, making sure everyone is treated equally, keeping members from fighting and keeping mutiny at bay. These leaders must also make the right or reasonable decision in a desperate or emergency situation. In Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World it tells many tales of various obstacles Shackleton and his crew faced. Weather, animals, living conditions, food, environment, morale and more. We will be taking a look at just three. Of course, the animals of the Antarctic were a plentiful food source for Shackleton and the crew of Endurance but they also posed a threat. When the crew were on the ice enjoying hockey or soccer they had to take great care to keep on the lookout for killer whales. The killer whales would break through the ice to grab seals and couldn’t distinguish

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