Antarctica, the Southern Atlantic Ocean and Weddell Sea area, with the tip of Africa, South America and the Southern Pacific Ocean.




The map focuses on the sounding results from the bathymetrical survey taken during the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition (1902-04), where measurements of the depths of the ocean were taken along the route onboard the expedition vessel, the Scotia. Lines in red follow the track of the Scotia, and pinpointed are the bathymetrical readings. The depths of the oceans have been highlighted in different shades of blue to illustrate the depth in fathoms. An inset map of Scotland has been included to show a comparative scale of the region being explored (and perhaps a matter of explanation of the scale of things for their friends and family back home).




The Scottish National Antarctic Expedition was led by scientist, oceanographer and explorer William Speirs Bruce (1867-1921). The timing of the expedition actually coincided with Captain Scott's Discovery Expedition (1901-04) but with altogether different objectives and experiments. The overall aim was to create a base as close to the South Pole as was possible and practical and to take observations of the weather, topography, and geology. Some of the main accomplishments on the mission were establishment of a manned meteorological station, Ormond House (1903) the first of its kind, and on the return of the expedition, the founding of the Scottish Oceanographical Laboratory in Edinburgh (1906).



Printed colour. [POLAR80]