Researchers have discovered the remarkably well-preserved wreck of polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton's ship, Endurance. A century after it was swallowed by Antarctic ice during what proved to be one of the most heroic expeditions in history. A team of marine archeologists, engineers and other scientists located the wreck near the Antarctica peninsula.
Undamaged State
The three-mast wooden ship was found in pristine condition, with gold-leaf letters reading "Endurance" still affixed to the stern and the ship's lacquered wooden helm still standing upright, as if the captain may return to steer it at any time.
How was it still intact?
The combination of deep, dark waters - no sunlight penetrates to 10,000 ft - frigid temperatures and sea ice have frustrated past efforts to find Endurance but also explain why the wreck is in such good condition today.
No bacteria
The bottom of the Weddel Sea is a "very inhospitable environment for just about everything - especially the kind of bacteria, mites and wood-eating worms that would otherwise enjoy munching on a wooden shipwreck".
Defeated by heavy sea ice
"Despite being designed to resist collision with ice floes and to break through pack ice, Endurance could not withstand being crushed by heavy sea ice.
Vital statistics
1915 The year Endurance sank.
1922 Shackleton died.
3,000 metres Below icy surface was where the ship was found.
1,287 km The distance Shackleton and his captain, Frank Worsley, sailed across treacherous icy waters in a 7-metre ship to the island of South Georgia, a remote whaling community, to get help.
Over 100 Researchers and crew members deployed underwater drones that combed the seafloor for two weeks in the area where the ship was recorded to have sunk.
Model of leadership
This successful trip is considered a heroic feat of fortitude and Shackleton's decisive response to imminent tragedy is still held up today as a model of how to lead in difficult circumstances.
5 PM
Shackleton himself noted the difficulty of the endeavour in his diary. "The end came at last about 5 PM", he wrote. "She was doomed, no ship built by human hands could have withstood the strain".
Abundance of sea life
Like stalked sea squirts, anemones, sponges of various forms, brittlestars and crinoids have colonised the shipwreck but not of the type that would consume it.
Remained a dream
The British explorer Shackleton never achieved his ambition to become the first person to cross Antarctica via the South Pole. In fact, he never set foot on the continent during the failed Endurance expedition, though he did visit Antarctica during earlier voyages.
The crew's escape
Before the ship disappeared in icy waters, Shackleton's crew loaded food and other provisions into three lifeboats to escape and set up camp on ice floes, says the diary.
Historic monument
The ship is protected as a historic monument under the 6-decade-old Antarctic Treaty that is intended to protect the region's environment.
Courtesy. The NIE.
My take
A historic monument, indeed, that bears testimony to the grit of the old seafarers!
Tailpiece.
Got up at a quarter past 6, the chores and was ready by 10.
Siena had dropped by for Lekha's help. Meanwhile, had begun two work packages viz. the doing up of the false ceiling in my parents' bedroom and the metallic, lattice cover over the well. Baby and Sahadevan were entrusted the jobs with the caretaker supervising it.
Had gone to town for bank work, converting our Syndicate Bank documents into that of the Canara bank. A young lady, Navya at the counter, was very helpful. God bless her!
Bought our fruit basket.
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