This map, created by Bourrichon for Wikimedia Commons in 2008, shows the first expeditions that sighted or approached Antarctica.

James Cook, despite appearing on this map, did not arrive at any of these locations. your travels to sight the southern continent. On his second voyage, which is shown on the map, he reached further south than any other explorer before him, crossing the Antarctic Circle, but without actually seeing land.

The person who did sight Antarctica was Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen (in blue) on 27 January 1820. That same year, Edward Bransfield also arrived three days later, and it is likely that Nathaniel Palmer did too, although none of them appear on this map.

I wrote about the discovery and conquest of Antarctica. this article in the newsletter, which provides further information on the subject.

Sources

• Expeditions in Antarctica-en