SOME SELECTED ANTARCTIC WEBSITES

Many of these sites and their descriptions are included in the appendix I prepared for ANTARCTICA: THE COMPLETE STORY by David McGonigal and Lynn Woodworth (The Five Mile Press, 2001).

I went to all sites listed on 27 January 2007 and removed all that were no longer functioning and added quite a few new ones.

Note: Some of these sites are filled with graphics and may be slow to load for those with dial-up internet connections.

—R. Stephenson

Last updated: 20 October 2012

Antarctic Centers
National Programs
News
History
Timelines
Explorers & Expeditions
Education & Kids
Tourism
Webcams
Images
Artists, Writers & Musicians
Bibliography
Some E-Books
Links
Levity
Miscellaneous

Antarctic Centers

Scott Polar Research Institute http://www.spri.cam.ac.uk [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) is the world's leading academic polar organization. This site is very detailed and comprehensive. Among the highlights:

• SPRILIB, a searchable database with over 43,000 bibliographic records
• Polar Pictures, the database of the holdings of the Picture Library
• Index to Antarctic programmes (comprehensive guide to Internet resources on national programmes, their webpages, current and historic research)
• The Index to Antarctic Expeditions (with links, summaries and related literature)
• Little-known British Antarctic Expeditions
• Polar Museums Directory
• Directory of Polar and Cold Regions Organizations
• 'Virtual Shackleton' is an "interactive exhibit on the life and expeditions of Sir Ernest Shackleton."
• Museum Catalogue (new but so far only Arctic)
• Museum Shop (you can order from the site)
• There are even Kid's Pages including Polar Jokes.

Byrd Polar Research Center http://bprc.osu.edu [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

BPRC is the closest thing to an American SPRI (and not that close). The site is heavily scientific in content. Among the other things on the site:

• Biography of Richard Byrd
• Polar Pointers, a notable and very extensive collection of annotated links
• Byrd Polar Archives (Ohio State hold the papers of Byrd, Wilkins, Cook Society, American Polar Society, among others)

CRREL http://itl.erdc.usace.army.mil/library [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

The Library at CRREL (Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory) in Hanover, New Hampshire, "is recognized as the world's foremost collection of cold regions scientific and technical literature." Its site has several searchable databases and many links. [CRREL is now part of Engineer Research and Development Center or ERDC. This is still part of the US Army Corps of Engineers or USACE.]

National Programs

British Antarctic Survey http://www.antarctica.ac.uk [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

All about British bases, copyright-free photos, databases, virtual tours, news stories and lots of science.

National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=OPP [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Sections on scientific programs by discipline, journal articles, lots of photographic and satellite images.

U.S. Antarctic Program http://www.usap.gov [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Information on USAP and its activities. Some good links for maps and images. Video clips. The Antarctic Photo Library secton has hundred of photos.

Antarctica New Zealand http://www.antarcticanz.govt.nz [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Some good school resources—frequently asked questions, information sheets, and education database.

Australian Antarctic Division http://www.antarctica.gov.au [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Maps of station areas, searchable catalogue of library holdings, many copyright-free photos, database of polar words and phrases, station webcams, and the Antarctic Artefacts Register. Quite a good resource for students (see 'Experience Antarctica.')

Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs http://www.comnap.aq [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

"Established in 1988 to bring together those managers of national agencies responsible for the conduct of Antarctic operations in support of science." It lists all the stations, has details on the facilities and activities of each, and links to all the national programs (the 'aq' in the web address is Antarctica's own internet domain).

SCAR http://www.scar.org [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

"SCAR [Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research] is charged with the initiation, promotion and coordination of scientific research in Antarctica. It also provides scientific advice to the Antarctic Treaty System." The site has an excellent listing of facts, ediucational and information on various scientific working groups and specialists. Quite a few links for sources of images ('Antarctica in Pictures' under 'Antarctic Information.')

News

Cool Antarctica http://www.coolantarctica.com [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

This site is the work of Paul Ward who spent four years with BAS, 1985-87. It's commercial in that it sells stuff, but there's also some good news here.
Major sections: Antarctica Pictures; Antarctica Cruise; Facts; History; Ugg Sale; Store; Clothes; Whales; Book; DVD etc.; Schools; Boots; Forum; Site Map; FIDS.
One section I like is the 'Antarctic Expeditions Crew Lists and Biographies.' Lots of information on those who were on expeditions from Bellingshausen to Shackleton's Quest.

Antarctic Sun http://antarcticsun.usap.gov [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

The Antarctic Sun is produced by the U.S. Antarctic Program's prime contractor, Raytheon Polar Services Company. "News about the USAP, the Ice, and the People." A mostly informal look at life in the Antarctic.

South Pole Gazette http://www.shackletoncentenary.org/gazette/# [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

"This is a semi-automated journal of online polar news, brought to you by the Shackleton Centenary Expedition. The Gazette contains fresh links to entries made in the last hour, gathered from syndicated news sources and special-interest sites. It acts as a rolling resource for anyone interested in tracking Antarctic news."

History

Antarctic Philately http://www.south-pole.com [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

For those with a passion for Antarctic (also Arctic) history, the Antarctic Philately site is the place to go. Besides copious information on stamps and postal history, there is voluminous coverage of south polar exploration from Cook to nearly the present. The highpoints are the numerous biographical entries and a well-done time line stretching from 1519 to 1959. Some portions are nearly book-length. This elegantly designed site also features many seldom-seen photo illustrations.

Heritage Antarctica http://www.heritage-antarctica.org [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Will appeal to those interested in Antarctic historic sites, especially the huts of the explorers. Site highlights the activities of New Zealand's Antarctic Heritage Trust in maintaining the historic huts in the Ross Sea sector. Included is a listing of historic sites with accompanying maps. This site also serves the United Kingdom Antarctic Heritage Trust.

National Maritime Museum http://www.nmm.ac.uk [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

This is the world's premier maritime museum and it has strong holdings in Antarctic material—artifacts, paintings and manuscripts. Its website is extensive and in many languages. The picture and library collections are online and can be searched. The 'Collections Online' section is a searchable database of over 9000 articles in the museum: at last count 34 of these popped up when 'Antarctic' was searched. The 'Search Station' section has a South Pole page with numerous photographs with lengthy captions.

Shackleton's Voyage of Endurance http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/shackleton [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Boston's WGBH public television station hosts this informative site which includes useful biographies of all of Shackleton's men, details on the lesser known Ross Sea party, historic maps, short accounts of other heroic age expeditions, educational resources such as lesson plans, and information on clothing, food, etc.

International Polar Heritage Committee http://www.polarheritage.com [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

"This site is provided by the International Polar Heritage Committee (IPHC) as a resource of information on matters related to the human heritage of Arctic and Antarctic regions. It is offered to everyone with an interest in the preservation and protection of the history of exploration, research and exploitation in polar areas. . . . The IPHC is a scientific committee of ICOMOS . . . (the International Council on Monuments and Sites). . . a non-governmental organisation of professional cultural heritage workers, which serves as an advisory body to UNESCO on matters related to world heritage. It was founded in 1965, and now has national committees in more than 90 countries. . . .
Selected site contents:

Other Polar heritage reports
General polar heritage and special conservation news
Polar Heritage Reference Material
Historic Sites and Monuments in Antarctica
Bibliographies and other reference material
Technical and scientific papers
Field and activity Reports
General polar historical information
Related Groups and Agencies
Polar heritage protection agencies
Other heritage protection and environmental agencies
Other Polar agencies and information sources
Register of Expertise
Historians, archaeologists and social history specialists
Conservators and technical conservation specialists"

--Thanks to Paul Chaplin (May 2002)

Antarctic Collections http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/antarctica [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

In 2010 the Mitchell Library at the State Library of New South Wales will be celebrating its centenary. Antarctic Collections 2002 is the second part of a ten-year program highlighting significant aspects of the Library's collections.

During 2002, the Library will celebrate its Antarctic collections with activities, events and films. Lines on the Ice: The Australasian Antarctic Expedition 1911-1914, will run from 8 July to 27 October in the Library's Galleries. This exhibition uses original images, maps and manuscripts to reveal the human side of Douglas Mawson's landmark, 'Heroic Age' expedition.

This site has images from that exhibit as follows:

Material used in the development of the Lines on the ice exhibition and gallery guide held at the State Library of NSW, 8 July to 27 October 2002
• Images from the Australasian Antarctic Expedition 1911-1914
• Photographs of the Aurora, group portraits and camp
• Photographs reproduced in Geographical narrative and cartography by Douglas Mawson
• Pictures taken during the Australasian Antarctic Expedition by Frank Hurley
• The Australasian Antarctic Expedition 1911-1914 : realia
• The Australasian Antarctic Expedition 1911-1914 : drawings and observations
• Charles Francis Laseron - diaries, 21 November 1911 to 24 February 1913
• Dovers family - papers, 1911-1915
• Australian Antarctic Expedition - records, December 1910 to December 1915

Polar Pathways http://www.polarpathways.info [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

A recent initiative of Antarctic Tasmania is the updating and reissuance of Polar Pathways, a guide detailing Tasmania's Antarctic Heritage which first appeared in 1995. Walking and driving tours are included. Although the guide is handy to have, all the information and more can be found on this site.

Antarctic Connections http://www.ccc.govt.nz/Christchurch/AntarcticConnections/ [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Extensive information on Christchurch's Antarctic heritage. Includes a walking and driving tour which can be downloaded.

Antarctic Heritage and Conservation http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/earth/antarctica/index.html [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

This section of the Natural History Museum's website focuses on the historic huts in the Ross Sea region and their conservation.

Cool Antarctica http://www.coolantarctica.com [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

This site is the work of Paul Ward who spent four years with BAS, 1985-87.
Quite a bit on history.
One section I like is the 'Antarctic Expeditions Crew Lists and Biographies.' Lots of information on those who were on expeditions from Bellingshausen to Shackleton's Quest.

Timelines

Antarctic Philately. http://www.south-pole.com [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

This excellent site has tucked away within An Antarctic Time Line: 1519-1959 which is thorough and comprehensive.

Captain Cook Society http://www.captaincooksociety.com/ccsu64.htm [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

A very detailed chronology of his Cook's second (Antarctic) voyage. The overall site has a wealth of material on Captain Cook including information on stamps, coins, medals, and Cook's ships, and a long bibliography as well.

New Zealand Antarctic Veterans Association http://antarctic.homestead.com/timeline.html [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

An extensive timeline created by Mike Subritzky, starting in 200 million years BC and going right up to the present.

There is also a timeline elsewhere on this site at http://www.antarctic-circle.org/timeline.pdf

Explorers & Expeditions

Byrd Polar Research Center (Richard Byrd and Sir Hubert Wilkins) http://bprc.osu.edu [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

This site has a biography of Richard Byrd (found under 'About BPRC') and a comprehensive collection of links entitled 'Polar Pointers,' some of which relate to explorers and expeditions. In the 'Archival Program' section (under 'Reserch Groups') is extensive information on both Byrd and Sir Hubert Wilkins (chronology, collection scope and content, finding aid, photographs) whose papers are at Ohio State (there are other papers of Antarctic interest as well). The site also includes several online exhibits: The excellent 'Magic of Antarctic Colours,' 'Echoes in the Ice' and 'Conquering the Ice, Byrd's Flight to the South Pole.'

Virginia Magazine of History and Biography (Richard Byrd) http://vahistorical.org/publications/abstract_hofstra.htm [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Abstract of the article Richard E. Byrd and the Legacy of Polar Exploration, by Warren R. Hofstra, which appeared Volume 110, Number 2.

Captain Cook Society (James Cook) http://www.captaincooksociety.com [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

A very detailed chronology of his Cook's second (Antarctic) voyage. The overall site has a wealth of material on Captain Cook including information on stamps, coins, medals, and Cook's ships, and a long bibliography as well.

Shackleton's Voyage of Endurance (Sir ErnestShackleton) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/shackleton [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Boston's WGBH public television station hosts this informative site which includes useful biographies of all of Shackleton's men, details on the lesser known Ross Sea party, historic maps, short accounts of other heroic age expeditions, educational resources such as lesson plans, and information on clothing, food, etc.

Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton http://indigo.ie/~jshack/ernest.html [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

The explorer's cousin and family historian, Jonathan Shackleton, has a site that notes recent books, videos and exhibitions, and recounts Shackleton's four Antarctic expeditions.

Shackleton Speaks (Sir Ernest Shackleton) http://www.shackletoncentenary.org/vintage_audio/Ernest_Shackleton-MySouthPolar.mp3 [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

"We present an early wax cylinder record from this period, titled 'My South Polar Expedition' by Lieut. E.H. Shackleton, recorded on 30 March 1909, with the location of the recording apocryphally given as being the Albert Hall. In any event, Shackleton describes here the hazards of crossing the Beardmore Glacier: only ten men in recorded history have ever managed this crossing.
The recording (8.6MB) will open in a new window."

FrankHurkley.Org (Frank Hurley and Sir Ernest Shackleton) http://www.frankhurley.org [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Shane Murphy's site re-appears. Shane is the expert on Hurley when it comes to his work on the Endurance expedition. He introduces the site as "…a non-commercial forum and web-based resource which aims to explore and make known the work of Australian photographer Frank Hurley during Ernest Shackleton's fabled Endurance expedition to Antarctica, 1914-1917." Lots of Hurley images, colorized by Shane.

Kodak (Frank Hurley and Sir Ernest Shackleton) http://www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/features/endurance [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Focuses on Frank Hurley and the Shackleton's Endurance expedition using historic photographs.

James Caird Society (Sir Ernest Shackleton) http://www.jamescairdsociety.com [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

The James Caird Society was established in 1994 to honor and perpetuate Shackleton's life and deeds. This very active group has placed a considerable amount material on its website including some good photographs, quite a bit of history on Shackleton's Endurance expedition, the latest Shackleton news and details on the Society itself.

John Hyatt Illustration (Sir Ernest Shackleton) http://www.shackletonposter.com [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

A lovely site, beautifully designed. And why shouldn't it be? John Hyatt is an illustrator. Much of the site is devoted to Shackleton and the Endurance expedition. The illustrated Timeline is excellent. It's on the site and scrolls from left to right but it is also available as a 20-1/2 by 29-2/4 inch poster.

Discovery Point (Robert Scott) http://www.rrsdiscovery.com [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

At the moment Captain Scott receives less web attention than Shackleton. His ship Discovery is beautifully preserved in Dundee, and the associated web site has lots on Scott, his men, the ship and the extensive exhibits on shore at Discovery Point.

Scott's Northern Party https://sites.google.com/site/scottsnorthernparty/home
http://scotts-northern-party.blogspot.com/ [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

New Zealander Don Webster, at Scott base 1960-63, maintains a website and a blog devoted to Scott's Northern Party, commanded by Victor Campbell and including Murray Levick, Raymond Priestley, George Abbott, Frank Browning and Harry Dickason. This is the party that famously over-wintered in an ice cave.

Captain Scott's Polar Ponies http://www.polarponies.com [Last checked: 12 February 2012]

Alison Jolley's site focuses on the 19 Manchurian and Siberian ponies that participated in Scott's Last Expedition. Lots of interesting information. Gives insight into how people (like me) become obsessed with things Antarctic. If you want to know the name of Oates' pony on the depot-laying journey, you can find it here (answer: Punch).

Edward Wilson of the Antarctic http://www.edwardawilson.com [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

"This web-site is intended to give wider access to the life, work and legacy of an extra-ordinary man."
The individual sections include: 1. Introduction, 2. Childhood, 3. Cambridge, 4. London, 5. TB, 6. Discovery, 7. Ireland, 8. Grouse, 9. Mammals, 10. Birds, 11. Terra Nova.
This is an excellent example of a simple yet elegantly handsome and useful site, created by Duncan Lawie and family member David Wilson.

The United States Exploring Expedition 1838-42 and Charles Wilkes http://www.sil.si.edu/DigitalCollections/usexex/ [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

The Smithsonian Institution has an excellent site on the expedition the collections of which led to the Institution's founding. Extremely large content including the full text of Wilkes' five volume narrative and the scientitic texts.

The Alfred Agate Collection: The United States Exploring Expedition 1838-42 http://www.history.navy.mil/ac/exploration/wilkes/wilkes.html [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

The Naval Historical Center at the Washington Navy Yard maintains this site which has a detailed account of the expedtion with many of the original images produced in various media. "The artworks used in this exhibition are taken from the Agate Collection of drawings at the Navy Art Collection. Alfred Agate created many of these during his service with the United States Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842 or in the preparation of the report of the Expedition. On his death in 1846 the drawings passed to his widow, Elizabeth Hill Kennedy Agate, who later married Dr. William J. C. Du Hamel of Washington, D.C. In 1926, one of her daughters from this marriage, Elizabeth A. Du Hamel, sold them to the Naval Historical Foundation. The Naval Historical Foundation donated them to the Navy Art Collection in 1998."

Pete's Polar Place (Frank Hurley) http://www.petespolarplace.com [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

This is site is "dedicated to the literature and philately of polar regions and to a lesser extent to non-polar philately." Has an extensive and useful section on Frank Hurley and collections around the world with Hurley material.

HMS Endurance Tracking Project (Sir Ernest Shackleton) http://www.visitandlearn.co.uk [Last checked: 9 December 2011] APPEARS TO NO LONGER BE ACTIVE
The Endurance Obituaries, or at least ones somewhat similar to what was on the Visitandlearn website and created by the same person (John Mann), now appear to reside at http://www.enduranceobituaries.co.uk/obituariessummary.htm

This is much more than just a site with a Shackleton focus. Among other things there's information on: Water and Oceans; Antarctica's Future; Antarctic Diet; Hydrographic Surveying; Polar Clothing; Ice, Ice & more Ice; Discovery & Exploration; Ernest Shackleton; Poles Apart; Southern Ocean Life; Latitude and Longitude; Seasons; About Endurance; Endurance Obituaries; Weather; Antarctic Treaty; Volcanoes; Ice Sheet History; and so on. Among the most interesting sections is the Endurance Obituaries. Lots of biographical information on members of the Endurance expedition. Particularly interesting: what happened to the members in later life.

Scotland and the Antarctic (Wiilliam Bruce but also Robert Scott, Sir Ernest Shackleton and Roald Amundsen) http://gdl.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/scotia/gooant [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

This is a lengthy portion of the Glasgow Digital Library website and is, in fact, an 'e-book' version of Scotland and the Antarctic by James A. Goodlad which was produced by the Royal Geographical Society in 2003 "to celebrate the achievements of hte Scottish oceanographer and polar explorer William Speirs Bruce and to mark the centenary of the voyage of S.Y. Scotia, the research ship of Bruce's Scottish National Antarctic Expedition of 1902-04." The book itself is 118pp.
Very useful.

Transglobe Expedition (Sir Ran Fiennes) http://www.transglobe-expedition.org/ [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

"In 1972 Ran's wife, Ginny, conceived the circumpolar idea. For seven years they strove to raise support for it and in 1979 set out from Greenwich in a thirty-year-old ice strengthened vessel, Benjamin Bowring, with a colourful crew of volunteers from many countries and backgrounds. The first circumpolar journey round the earth, led by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, was described in the New York Times as the world's last great adventure, and by the expedition patron, HRH Prince Charles as 'mad but marvellous'."

Searching for Sir Hubert (Sir Hubert Wilkins) http://www.sirhubert.com/ [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Sir Hubert's life cut up into short sections.

La Belgica: Expédition Antarctique Belge - 1897-1899 (Adrien Gerlache) http://www.exmaroffshore.com/Belgica.htm [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Quite a bit on this pioneering Heroica Age expedtion.

Tom Crean; Sailor on Ice http://imaginationlane.net/tomcrean/ [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

David Hirzel's excellent podcasts centering on Tom Crean.

Race to the End of the Earth (Scott and Amundsen) http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/race/ [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

This major exhibition was at the American Museum of Natural History through 2 January 2011 and elsewhere since. The website lives on with lots of useful details. Too bad about the sound effects.

List of Antarctic expeditions http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Antarctic_expeditions [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

A linked-list starting in the 7th century and stretching to the present.

Education & Kids

Scott Polar Research Institute http://www.spri.cam.ac.uk [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) is the world's leading academic polar organization. This site is very detailed and comprehensive. There are even Kid's Pages including Polar Jokes.

TEA (Teachers Experiencing Antarctica and the Arctic) http://tea.armadaproject.org [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

This is a terrific educational site sponsored by the National Science Foundation and facilitated by Rice University, the American Museum of Natural History and CRREL. Schoolteachers participate in research projects in Antarctica and post their journals here, or can e-mail them and learn more. The content is voluminous. Although the TEA program has ceased and the site has been archived, this in nonetheless a very useful source.

British Antarctic Survey http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/ [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Among the contents of the 'School Zone' section are Resources for Teaching; Information for Teachers and Students; All About Antarctica; and Fun and Games.

Bears on Ice http://www.ku-prism.org/resources/Bears2005/ [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

From the introduction: "This site allows students to experience Antarctica through the eyes of two Geobears, Berkley and OzGold, who sailed on the Aurora Australis with their Australian, friend and helper, Gordon Bain. Berkley came from Illinois from the 4th grade classroom of Betty Trummel, while OzGold came from Gordon's home in Tasmania. These Bears have traveled to Antarctica and back, have had many adventures and have lived to tell the tale. They have brought back information and photographs that will help you share their adventures."

Classroom Antarctica http://www.classroom.antarctica.gov.au/ [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

From the Australian Antarctic Division. Eight "units" including Continent, Exploring, Living, Working, Nature, Climate, International and Stewardship. Lots of opportunities for students and teachers. Aimed at grades 5 to 8.

Discovering Antarctica http://www.discoveringantarctica.org.uk [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Sponsorted by the British Antarctic Survey, the Royal Geographical Society and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, this site is a excellent educational resource. Filled with video and sound clips (like icebreakers crashing through ice and Emperor penguins feeding chicks). Links to the BAS and RGS image libraries.

Exploring the Poles http://www.phys.barnard.edu/~kay/polar/ [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

This site was created by Laura Kay, professor at Barnard College who is co-teaching a course on Exploring the Poles with colleague Stephanie Pfirman. Both the Arctic and Antarctic are covered. Sections include the course schedule, related events, polar links, films (and extensive listing although not a lot of information), women (polar women books), and fiction (again, quite extensive although lacking in detail). Let's hope it stays up after the course is done.

Tourism

IAATO http://www.iaato.org [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

"A member organization founded in 1991 to advocate, promote and practice safe and environmentally responsible private-sector travel to the Antarctic." Its site has a definitive listing of tour operators with contacts and web addresses, a variety of tourism statistics, a book list, a Gallery of photos and a section on Guidance for Visitors to the Antarctic.

Lonely Planet http://www.lonelyplanet.com/antarctica [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Lonely Planet, the guidebook publisher, has helpful information on getting to Antarctica, getting around, clothing, some of the usual landing spots, weather, history.

Webcams

WebCam Central http://www.camcentral.com/listings.php?task=list&item=location&show=Antarctica [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Webcams are scattered about Antarctica at various research stations. WebCam Central is the best place to go for links to those in operation.

RRS James Clark Ross Webcam http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/Living_and_Working/Transport/Ships/Webcam/index.php

A webcam aboard the British Antarctic Survey's ship 'James Clark Ross.'

Penguin Webcam http://www.martingrund.de/pinguine/ [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

"The world's first penguin webcam." It's at "Base Bernado O'Higgins, it's online since Sept 2004. From October till April you can watch a small group of gentoo penguins at their brood place."
--Thanks to Martin Grund.

Mawson Station http://www.aad.gov.au/asset/webcams/mawson [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

At Australia's major Antarctic station.

Scott Base http://www.antarcticanz.govt.nz/education/2568 [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Webcam set up at Scott Base, Ross Island.

South Pole http://www.usap.gov/videoclipsandmaps/spwebcam.cfm [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Webcam set up at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.

Images

Australian Antarctic Division http://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/antarctic-images [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

On this site you'll find many images including desktop wallpapers, screensavers, panoramas and Quicktime VRs.

Google Images http://images.google.com [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Google Images is a great source for thousands (actually millions—last time I looked there were 11 million plus) of Antarctic photos, maps and images.

U.S. Antarctic Program http://photolibrary.usap.gov [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Hundreds of photos arranged by subject (People, Stations, Scenery, Science, Transportation, Wildlife, Historical, New Photos)

Royal Geographical Society http://images.rgs.org/ [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Hundreds of photos (1572 actually) including many historical images including artifacts, menus, etc.. There's a superimposed 'RGS' watermark (but not on the thumbnails) but the images can be purchased. A plus is that each photo has details such as date, subject, photographer, etc. There's a search capability as well.

Freeze Frame http://www.freezeframe.ac.uk/home/home [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

"The Scott Polar Research Institute in the University of Cambridge holds a world-class collection of photographic negatives illustrating polar exploration from the nineteenth century onwards. Freeze Frame is the result of a two-year digitisation project that brings together photographs from both Arctic and Antarctic expeditions."

Hedgehog House http://www.hedgehoghouse.com/hedgehog/photo-galleries/?subcategoryID=13 [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Many stunning photographs by New Zealander Colin Monteath and others.

Artists, Writers & Musicians

Antarctic Animation is an interesting site at http://www.antarcticanimation.com that is the work of Lisa Roberts at the University of New South Wales. (Also see her website at http://lisaroberts.com.au. Both are linked to one another and are of a similar, very clean design.) The Abstract explains the site:

"The aim of this research is first to collect evidence of what the scientists, and others who have worked in Antarctica have observed and responded to in the landscape; second to devise an on-line animated interface through which to engage viewers with both the science and poetics of the data. Animation will be used to increase understanding of changes in Antarctic landscape as identified in the records and accounts provided by Antarctic base workers - the people who have studied it, and physically endured a full year of its changing landscape."

Among the more interesting sections is The Antarctic Thesarus which "aims to animate the Antarctic landscape through the eyes of those who have observed and experienced its changes; to enliven our understanding of what is happening in this icy desert. Links are made between The Antarctic Thesarus and some of the words from The Antarctic Dictionary." Included are some appealing images.

See also information on this site under Antarctic Art elsewhere on this site. [Last checked: 31 May 2007]

Valmar Kurol (Montreal Antarctic Society) has a new website up on Antarctic Art. (His other interest is Antarctic Music—see Antarctica Experienced Through Music; Capsule Comments on CDs about Antarctica elsewhere on this site at http://www.antarctic-circle.org/valmar.htm). Several hundred images are displayed in the 'Gallery,' all by Valmar. http://www.antarcticart.net
UPDATE: Valmar e-mails to say: "Just by way of explanation, the site is still under construction. I expect to put in categories and titles on all the works. They are all oil paintings of a few real sites, but mostly imaginary snow & ice scenes of Antarctica, done over 2001-to date. It may be considered to be impressionistic or expressionistic or cave art or whatever you may want." [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

There's also a link to another Valmar Kurol site, http://www.antarcticarrival.com which describes his CD entitled Antarctic Arrival. Valmar writes "The visual and spiritual superlatives of Antarctica are frequently expressed through photography and books but to a lesser extent through music. What kinds of tunes and rhythms does the seventh continent inspire? Is there an Antarctic sound? This CD of musical interpretations of various facets of Antarctica, a collaboration with Marc-André Bourbonnais, is based on my three visits over 1993-95 to the frozen south." [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

David Abbey Paige was an artist on Byrd's second Antarctic expedition. Much of his work during that expedition--mostly pastels--are at the Archives at The Ohio State University. A lovely book was written to accompany the exhibition of Paige's work at the German Maritime Museum [for details on the book, go to 'Antarctic Book Notes' elsewhere on this site.] More recently, they were exhibited at the Hopkins Hall Gallery at OSU. This website displays what appears to be the entire Paige holdings at OSU. The page (as was the book) is entitled The Magic of Antarctic Colors. http://library.osu.edu/projects/magic-of-antarctic-colors/paige.htm [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

The Art of Robert Charles Haun (1903-1975) http://www.history.navy.mil/ac/artist/h/haun/haun1.html [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Haun was an artist with Operation Deepfreeze I. This site has many of his works. They are titled, dated and described. Included are sketches, pastels and oils.

The Alfred Agate Collection: The United States Exploring Expedition 1838-42 http://www.history.navy.mil/ac/exploration/wilkes/wilkes.html [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

"The artworks used in this exhibition are taken from the Agate Collection of drawings at the Navy Art Collection. Alfred Agate created many of these during his service with the United States Exploring Expedition, 1838-1842 or in the preparation of the report of the Expedition."

Polar Artists Group http://polarartists.com [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

A site that features a number of artists specializing in both the Arctic and Antarctic.

Sir Wally Herbert http://sirwallyherbert.com [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

A number of Sir Wally Herbert's Arctic and Antarctic paintings are included on this site.

Cliff Wassmann http://artseek.com/antarctica [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Antarctic paintings from California Cliff Wassmann.

Lisa Goren http://www.lisagorenpaintings.com [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Massachusetts-based artist who was inspired by her 1997 trip to the Antarctic.

James H. Barker http://www.PolarFineArts.com [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Ethnographer-photographer. 1996. Photographic documentation of the people of Antarctica.

Alan Campbell http://www.alancampbellstudios.com [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Painter. 1988, 1989, 1993. Watercolors and drawings displayed at shows and galleries in New Zealand, Chile, and the United States. Exhibition catalog.

Neelon Crawford http://www.PolarFineArts.com [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Photographer. 1989, 1991,1992, 1993, 1994. Exhibitions at galleries. Exhibition catalogs. Southern Lights Portfolio (photogravures etchings).

Lucia deLeiris http://www.luciadeleiris.com [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Painter. 1985-86. 1995. 1998-99. Books: Natural History of the Antarctic Peninsula text by Sanford Moss (Columbia University Press, 1988); Antarctic Journal text by Meredith Hooper (National Geographic, 2000); The Island that Moved text by Meredith Hooper (Viking Press, 2004) The Adélie Penguin: Bellwether of Climate Change text by David G. Ainley (Columbia University Press 2002). Watercolors and drawings shown at museums and galleries.

Caroline Durre http://www.carolinedurre.com/page7.htm [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Lithographs from voyage to Antarctica (Casey and Davis Stations) 1994, with Australian Antarctic Division Humanities Program/Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions.

Peter Hall http://www.natureartists.com/artists/artist_artwork.asp?ArtistID=980&Artwork_CategoryID=634 [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

South African painter and photographer. Recent book: 'Deception Island and the Antarctic Peninsula. An Artistic Adventure.'

David Rosenthal http://www.PolarFineArts.com [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Painter. 1993, 1996. Paintings for galleries and museums in Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and elsewhere.

Galen Rowell http://www.mountainlight.com [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Photographer and writer. 1992. "A most unearthly place," March 1993 Life. Book, Poles Apart: Parallel Visions of the Arctic and Antarctic (University of California Press, 1995).

Norbert Wu http://www.norbertwu.com [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Underwater photography. 1997, 1999.

Bibliography

Representations of Antarctica—A Bibliography http://www.utas.edu.au/english/Representations_of_Antarctica/home.htm [Last checked: 11 March 2007]

"This bibliography was compiled as part of an ongoing study of textual representations of Antarctica by Dr Elizabeth Leane, Lecturer, School of English, Journalism and European Languages, University of Tasmania. The construction of the bibliography, undertaken by Dr Leane and Stephanie Pfennigwerth (Research Assistant to Dr Leane), was supported by an Institutional Research Grant from the University of Tasmania.

The primary aim of the bibliography is to provide a research resource for scholars in the humanities interested in representations of Antarctica, particularly literary representations. Only texts which have, in the admittedly subjective opinion of the compilers, substantial Antarctic material are included. The bibliography covers texts written in English or translated into English. Where a qualifying remark is required, this is given in underneath the relevant entry. The MLA citation system has been employed throughout the bibliography.

The bibliography is divided into seven separate sections covering material relating to Antarctica within a variety of literary genres, and an addition section listing literary and cultural criticism relating to Antarctica:

Fiction, 1950- (Adult)
Fiction, 1750-1950 (Adult)
Fiction (Juvenile)
Short Stories
Poetry
Drama
Films and Television Programmes
Literary and Cultural Criticism"

—Source: Home page of the site.

Some E-Books

There's a search function (author, title) and a 'browse by subject category' function.

I was able to find and view or download the following Antarctic titles:

The South Pole, by Roald Amundsen (Project Gutenberg Release #4229. http://www.gutenberg.net/etext03/7tsp1210.txt)

The Worst Journey in the World, by Apsley Cherry-Garrard. Two volumes. (Project Gutenberg Release #14363. http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/3/6/14363/14363-8.txt)

A Voyage towards the South Pole . . ., by James Cook. Two volumes. Page images. (http://www.canadiana.org/ECO/mtq?doc=67489 AND http://www.canadiana.org/ECO/mtq?doc=67490)

The Home of the Blizzard, by Douglas Mawson (Project Gutenberg Release #6137. http://www.gutenberg.net/etext04/blizz10.txt)

South with Scott, by E.R.G.R. Evans (Project Gutenberg Release #18129. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/18129/18129-8.txt)

Scott's Last Expedition. Volume I only. (Project Gutenberg Release #11579. http://www.gutenberg.org/files/11579/11579-8.txt)

South!, by Sir Ernest Shackleton. (Project Gutenberg Release #5199. http://www.gutenberg.net/etext04/south12h.htm)

The Voyages of Captain Scott, by Charles Turley. (Project Gutenberg Release #6721. http://www.gutenberg.net/etext04/vscot10.txt)

The e-text can be downloaded or viewed in your browser in various formats such as Plain text, Zipped plain text, Accented text, Zipped accented text, HTML, Zipped HTML.

Geographic Names of the Antarctic, 2nd Edition, Alberts.
Report on the scientific results of the voyage of S.Y. "Scotia" during the years 1902, 1903 and 1904, under the leadership of William S. Bruce.
The Voyage of the 'Why Not?', Charcot.
Four years in a government exploring expedition : to the island of Madeira, Cape Verd islands, Brazil, Coast of Patagonia, Chili, Peru, Paumato Group, Society Islands, Navigator Group, Australia, Antarctic Continent..., Colvocoresses.
The polar world: A Popular Description of Man and Nature in the Arctic and Antarctic Regions of ..., Hartwig.
Notes on the botany of the Antarctic voyage ... in her majesty's discovery ships Erebus and ... , Hooker.
With the "Aurora" in the Antarctic, 1911-1914, Davis.
The lands of silence, a history of Arctic and Antarctic exploration, Markham.
A narrative of four voyages : to the South sea, north and south Pacific ocean, Chinese sea, Ethiopic and southern Atlantic ocean, Indian and Antarctic ocean ; from the year 1822 to 1831 ... , Morrell.
Antarctic penguins; a study of their social habits, Levick.
The Antarctic Ocean, Owen.
The Great White South, Ponting.
Antarctic Conquest, Ronne.
Fourteen Men The Story of the Antarctic Expedition to Head Island, Scholes.
Album of Photographs and sketches with a portfolio of panoramic views (Discovery expedition).
The Antarctic book : winter quarters 1907-1909, Shackleton.
British Antarctic Expedition, 1907-9, under the command of Sir E.H. Shackleton, c.v.o. Reports on the scientific investigations (Volume 1-2) - British Antarctic Expedition (1907-1909.
The romance of the South Pole : Antarctic voyages and explorations, Smith.
A voyage to the Cape of Good Hope : towards the Antarctic polar circle, and round the world : but chiefly into the country of the Hottentots and Caffres, from the year 1772 to 1776, Sparrman.
With Scott the Silver Lining, Taylor.
Narrative of a Voyage to the Southern Atlantic Ocean..., Webster.
Four years aboard the whaleship. Embracing cruises in the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Antarctic oceans, in the years 1855, '6, '7, '8, '9, Whitecar.
And from the looks of it all of the scientific reports of the Discovery and Terra Nova expeditions.

Links

Byrd Polar Research Center (Polar Pointers) http://bprc.osu.edu/polar_pointers [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

The largest collection of links, more than 250, all with annotations. Arranged alphabetically by site name.

SCAR http://www.scar.org/about/capacitybuilding/antarcticeducation [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Quite a few Antarctic education links to websites in many languages are included.

Scott Polar Research Institute http://www.spri.cam.ac.uk/links [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Links arranged by categories: Polar webcams; Polar charities; General polar links, etc.

Discoverers Web http://www.win.tue.nl/cs/fm/engels/discovery [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Massive collection of links covering all aspects of travel, discovery and exploration. Arranged mostly by region and era it has a more than adequate polar section.

Levity

Monty Python takes on Captain Scott http://youtu.be/tVc0EZl3AfU [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Horrible Histories http://youtu.be/M3RacavLulI [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Bach of the Antarctic! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuzzEkmxf18 [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Have a look at some unusual penguins http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kvWS1XwCMM&feature=player_embedded# [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

And how about this one in Japan? http://www.flixxy.com/pet-penguin-goes-shopping.htm [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

The University of Antarctica! http://antarcticaedu.com/collegeant.htm [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Miscellaneous

Live from the Antarctic 1912 http://www.antarctic-discovery.com David Hirzel's daily blog which "posts from the diaries of the men who were there. The daily posts skip around from all the expeditions that were active on the ice during the day in question. Thus we have "posts" from Wild, Mawson, Priestley, Scott, Filchner, Amundsen and Shirase (though they have left the field now), the denizens of Cape Evans. I have enough material to run this through the Endurance/Aurora expeditions." [Last checked: 24 March 2012]

Antarctic Cats http://www.purr-n-fur.org.uk/famous/antarctic.html Felines who have ventured south. [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctica [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Probably the best of the lot for general information. As with all Wikipedia entries, lots of links to other related Wikipedia pages.
MAJOR CONTENTS
   1 Etymology
   2 History
   3 Geography
   4 Geology
   5 Climate
   6 Population
   7 Biodiversity
   8 Politics
   9 Economy
   10 Research
   11 Ice mass and global sea level
   12 Effects of global warming
   13 Ozone depletion
   14 See also
   15 Notes
   16 References
   17 External links

Atlas of Antarctic Research http://lima.usgs.gov/antarctic_research_atlas/ [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

This USGS site features an Antarctic GIS of sorts which one can navigate around the continent, adding a wide variety of features categorized into grouping under Reference, Geographic Names, Locations, Hydrography, Orthoimagery, Elevation, Satellite Imagery and Physiography.

IPY 2007-2008 International Polar Year http://www.us-ipy.gov [Last checked: 9 December 2011] APPEARS TO NO LONGER BE ACTIVE

"This site features IPY activities supported by the United States government."
The main sidebars include:
      Science & Nature: Animals & environment.
      People & Culture: Life at the poles.
      Explore & Learn: For students & teachers.
      Multimedia: Images, video, audio.
      News & Events: Press releases, speeches, meetings, & more.
      About IPY.
      U.S. Participants: Gov't Agencies and Orgs; Logistics Organizations; Funded Research; Funding Opportunities.
      Resources.

International Polar Year 2007-2008 http://www.ipy.org [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

All 228 endorsed IPY projects are described, plus lots more. Produced by the World Meteorolgical Organization and the International Council for Science.

NASA and the International Polar Year (IPY) http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/IPY/main/index.html [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

This section of NASA's website focuses on the IPY and includes lots of content.

CIA's Antarctica page https://www.cia.gov/search?NS-search-page=document&NS-rel-doc-name=/cia/publications/factbook/print/ay.html&NS-query=Antarctica&NS-search-type=NS-boolean-query&NS-collection=World%20Factbook&NS-docs-found=608&NS-doc-number=1 [Last checked: 9 December 2011] APPEARS TO NO LONGER BE ACTIVE

The CIA's Factbook on Antarctica employs the standard format used for all countries, the categories are not always relevant—percentage of land in permanent crops, for example—but it is still worth a look.

Antarctic Treaty http://www.ats.aq [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

The site of the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat which "was established in 2004 to: 1) support the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP); 2) promote the official information exchange between the Parties of the Antarctic Treaty; 3) collect, maintain and publish the records of the ATCM and the CEP and; 4) provide information on the Antarctic Treaty system." The site's major sections are: Antarctic Treaty; Environmental Protocol; Meetings; Documents: Topics; Information Exchange; News; Newsletter; and Links.

Antarctic Treaty http://webhost.nvi.net/aspire [Last checked: 9 December 2011] APPEARS TO NO LONGER BE ACTIVE

This searchable database provides probably more than anyone will ever want to know about the Antarctic Treaty.

Tasmanian Polar Network (TPN) http://www.tpn.aq [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

The Tasmanian Polar Network (TPN) gives Antarctic shipping schedules, information about polar ships calling at Hobart, some news on polar events, and dates of conferences.

The ANARE Club http://www.anareclub.org.au [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

The ANARE Club, founded in 1951 by veterans of the early Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions (ANARE), highlights some of its activities at but it also notes Antarctic news of interest to non-members particularly Australians.

Website for those who are interested in or served on the icebreaker Edisto http://www.ussedistoagb2.com [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

Website for those who are interested in or served on the icebreaker Glacier http://www.glaciersociety.org [Last checked: 9 December 2011]

And for those who are interested in or served in the Antarctic. Have a look at the Old Antarctic Explorers site http://www.oaea.net [Last checked: 9 December 2011]