Gauss expedition

The Gauss - Expedition (1901-1903) was the first German Antarctic Expedition and was undertaken by the polar explorer and geology professor Erich von Drygalski on the ship Gauss, which was called contrary to common usage " Gaussian ". The aim of the expedition was to explore the unknown territory south of the Kerguelen.

Expedition

The expedition ran out in Kiel in the summer of 1901. A small group of researchers (including Josef Enzensperger, Karl Luyken and Emil Werth ) was stationed on the Kerguelen, while the other men drove to the south. The expedition made ​​on the island Heard station and took the first comprehensive studies of the island 's geology, flora and fauna.

Later, the expedition discovered new Antarctic Lands, although it was stuck for almost 14 months in ice and was released back in February 1903. The new area was named Kaiser Wilhelm II Land, the ship became the patron saint of the extinct volcano Gaussberg.

Drygalski was after Robert Falcon Scott one of the first researchers who used a tethered balloon in Antarctica.

Return and evaluation

In November 1903, the Gauss arrived back in Kiel. As a result, Erich von Drygalski wrote the report on the expedition and edited the extensive scientific data. Between 1905 and 1931 he published 20 books and two atlases documenting the expedition.