Sixth Norwegian Antarctic Expedition

The sixth Norwegian Antarctic Expedition (Den norske antarktisekspedisjonen) was a scientific expedition to Queen Maud's Land in Antarctica. The expedition was based at Norway Station (70°30′S 02°32′W / 70.500°S 2.533°W / -70.500; -2.533) which was located on the Fimbul Ice Shelf bordering the coast of Queen Maud Land.[1]

The expedition carried out survey work and scientific studies for three-four years (1956–1960). The expedition was intended as part of Norway's participation in the International Geophysical Year, 1957-58. The crew set sail from Oslo on board two whaling ships, the Polarsirkel and Polarbjørn, on 10 November 1956.[1][2][3]

The expedition was led by Sigurd Gunnarson Helle, a geodesist at Norsk Polarinstitutt. It included a total crew of fourteen researchers which was reduced to nine during the third year.[4] Among their activities was topological mapping of the region.[5]

In 1960, King Olav V of Norway instituted the Antarctic Medal (Antarktismedaljen) commemorating the expedition which was awarded to 37 people who were attached to the expedition in various ways.[4]

  1. ^ a b Lebedev, Vladimir L'vovich (1959). Antarctica. Foreign Languages Publishing House. p. 244.
  2. ^ "Norway Station 1956-1960" (PDF). Norsk Polarhistorie. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  3. ^ Hans-Martin Henriksen. "Den Norske Antarktisekspedisjon 1956-60 Norway Station / Fimbul" (PDF). Norsk Polarhistorie. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Amundsen, Bård; Lie, Else. "IPY generates a torrent of research". translators: Connie Stultz and Victoria Coleman. The Research Council of Norway. Retrieved 2010-12-23.
  5. ^ "Sigurd Helle". Norsk Polarhistorie. Retrieved April 1, 2016.