|
||
|
|
|
|
A finely printed map of Antarctica and the southern oceanic basin, published as Plate 9 in The Times Atlas by the Edinburgh Geographical Institute in the early 20th century. The map presents the South Polar Regions in a polar projection with contour bathymetry and detail drawn from British, Norwegian, and international expeditions active in the early stages of Antarctic exploration. Notable features include the Ross Ice Barrier, Victoria Land, King Edward VII Plateau, and the newly surveyed King Haakon VII Plateau near the South Pole, marked with the dates of Amundsen’s (Dec. 1911) and Scott’s (Jan. 1912) arrivals.
The ocean floor is shaded by depth intervals in fathoms, with contouring that reflects then-current knowledge from sounding expeditions. Several exploratory tracks are plotted and labeled with year and vessel, including the courses of Discovery (1902), Terra Nova (1911), and Fram (1911), reflecting British and Norwegian competition during the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration. Limits of known pack ice are delineated, and the southern limits of navigability are sketched with delicate confidence.
The map’s division of the continent into quadrants, Ross, Weddell, Victoria, and Enderby, suggests a British cartographic framework, oriented around imperial claims and geographical milestones. Settlements or research stations are not present, underscoring the era’s emphasis on geographic firsts and reconnaissance rather than permanent presence. A bathymetric cross-section inset at lower left and a detailed explanatory note on fathoms, ice pack, and exploration routes contribute to its scientific utility.
Published just after the dramatic race to the Pole and shortly before the continent’s full coastal outline was completed, this map captures a moment of both triumph and uncertainty, when exploration still outran political claims and scientific consensus. It stands as both a document of early 20th-century geographic knowledge and a visual artifact of imperial ambition in the high latitudes.
This map appeared in the 1922 edition of the Times Atlas, reissued from the 1920 edition to include Bartholomew's maps. This Atlas is still published today and continues to be a source of cutting edge knowledge.
