History

A mystery from the ice dating back to 1943. A mysterious death in Berlin in 2026. And a vulnerability in global IT security that could lead the world to the brink of disaster.

Russia maps its historical heritage on Svalbard

Yana Kirichenko

The Russian Geographical Society says it plans to document hundreds of objects linked to Russian history on Svalbard for a new Arctic heritage database and atlas.

Nobile’s Drama and Amundsen’s End

Christian Hug

Things could have turned out very differently indeed. But vanity and a thirst for recognition turned offended heroes into tragic losers, and what should have been a glorious triumph in the race to the North Pole became the greatest disaster in the history of the Arctic.

The Tragedy of Svenskehuset

Seventeen sealers sought refuge in a well-stocked Arctic house, only to die from an invisible danger hidden in their own supplies.

The Role of Scurvy in Polar Expeditions

Scurvy was a serious threat to polar expeditions, caused by a lack of vitamin C.

Jacques-Yves Cousteau – The man with the bobble hat

Jacques-Yves Cousteau, the lanky man who smoked Gitanes Bleues and wore a red bobble hat, was the hero of my childhood. I probably shared my enthusiasm for Cousteau with an entire generation.

Pyramiden, Frozen in Time

Decades after its abandonment, the Soviet mining settlement of Pyramiden remains suspended between Arctic wilderness, preserved history and the slow return of nature.

Hauke Trinks and the Idea That Life Began in Ice

German physicist Hauke Trinks combined unconventional origin-of-life research with years of Arctic overwintering expeditions alongside Marie Tièche.

Snow Cruiser – The Biggest Flop in Antarctic Research

The ‘Snow Cruiser’ was a huge vehicle designed for Antarctic expeditions. It served both as a means of transport and as a mobile research station, with living and working quarters for the crew.

How Early Explorers Survived the Cold

Polar Journal AG Team

Survival in the polar regions depended on practical skills, careful planning, and the ability to adapt to extreme cold.

Dumont d’Urville – Expedition to Antarctica

In 1837, Dumont d’Urville was asked by King Louis-Philippe I to explore the South Pole.

More Than Transport: Human–Dog Cooperation in the Arctic

In the Arctic, humans and sled dogs form a cooperative system that combines mobility, sensory awareness, and shared learning to adapt to extreme conditions.

Ingrid Pedersen: The First Woman to Fly Over the North Pole

In 1963, Ingrid Pedersen crossed the North Pole in a small aircraft, becoming the first woman to do so on a flight from Alaska to Norway.

Emily Lady Shackleton – The Patient Lady

Of all the heroes of the Golden Age of Antarctic exploration (1897–1922), the name Ernest Shackleton shines the brightest.

Vivian Fuchs – A First and a Fourth Place

January 19, 1958: Journalists had been flown to the American station at the South Pole because the whole world was eagerly waiting to see whether the great adventure would succeed.

Four members of the Franklin expedition identified

Almost 180 years after the tragic end of the Franklin expedition, researchers have succeeded in definitively identifying four previously unknown crew members using DNA analysis.

May 12, 1926 — Nobile Reaches the North Pole

On May 12, 1926, the Italian aviation pioneer Umberto Nobile flew over the North Pole in the airship “Norge,” together with the Norwegian polar explorer Roald Amundsen and the American Lincoln Ellsworth.

Mine 7 Closure Ends Norwegian Coal Mining in Longyearbyen

The recent closure of Mine 7 marks the end of Norwegian coal mining in Longyearbyen and reflects a broader shift toward new economic activities on Svalbard.

50 Years of Georg Forster Station – A Milestone in Polar Research

On April 21, 1976, the future Georg Forster Station of the former GDR was officially inaugurated in the Schirmacher Oasis in Antarctica.

Parmjit Singh Sehra – First Indian in Antarctica

Polar Journal AG Team

As part of his doctoral research, Dr. Singh Sehra spent a total of 18 months in Antarctica and circumnavigated the continent together with Soviet researchers.

The Odd Bird on the Fringe of History

Christian Hug

Nobu Shirase wants to go to the South Pole! That was the joke of the year in 1909. The Japanese were rolling with laughter, and the press openly mocked him.

The Svalbard Treaty: A Brief Overview

The Svalbard Treaty grants Norway sovereignty while ensuring equal access and peaceful use of the Arctic archipelago for all signatory nations.

Salomon August Andrée – The Daredevil in the Balloon

On foot, by sled, or by ship, many methods had already been tried to reach the North Pole.

Camp Century – City Under the Ice

Camp Century looks like something out of a spy movie: a city beneath the ice, hidden in the Arctic.

Cape Town Agreement Boosts Arctic Safety

The Cape Town Agreement, entering into force in 2027, sets new safety standards for fishing vessels reducing risks and pollution in Arctic waters.

The Sourtoe Cocktail: Dawson City’s Most Bizarre Drink

In Dawson City, Yukon, adventurous drinkers can join the Sourtoe Cocktail Club by downing a shot containing a real dehydrated human toe.

Fernando E. Franca – First Cuban in Antarctica