Whose journey first reached the South Pole?

The first people to reach the geographic South Pole were members of a Norwegian expedition led by Roald Amundsen, who arrived on 14 December 1911. Amundsen carefully planned team relied on skis and sled dogs and made efficient use of the Antarctic conditions. A British expedition led by Robert Falcon Scott reached the Pole about five weeks later, on 17 January 1912, only to discover the Norwegian flag already there. Tragically, Scott and his four companions died from cold, exhaustion, and starvation during their return journey, and their bodies were found months later. The contrast between Amundsen success and Scott disaster became one of the most famous stories in the history of exploration, illustrating how planning, equipment, and decisions can mean the difference between triumph and tragedy in the harshest environment on Earth.