What Happened On January 27th?

Today on January 27th in the year 1820, Russian naval officers Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev laid eyes on the desolate continent of Antarctica. Despite being the largest desert in the world (3.376 billion acres), Antarctica accounts for nearly 70% of the Earth’s fresh water.

Initiated by Emperor Alexander I of Russia, the Imperial Russian Expedition aimed to explore uncharted territories in the Southern Hemisphere. Setting sail from Rio de Janeiro in July 1819, Captain Bellingshausen commanded the lead ship Vostok while Lazarev led the Mirny.

The expedition had two main objectives—scientific research and mapping new lands. Bellingshausen and Lazarev carried instruments for astronomical observations, hydrographical measurements, and botanical and zoological studies.

So, on January 27th, the two ships approached a massive ice shelf, which signified their discovery of what would be known as a whole new continent! Bellingshausen and Lazarev became the first explorers to lay eyes on the icy expanse of Antarctica.

Over the following months, the expedition made substantial progress, circumnavigating the Antarctic continent and making multiple landings to conduct scientific observations. However, in the process, the crews endured harsh conditions (extreme cold, icebergs, and treacherous waters).

The average temperature in Antarctica is around -71°F, which is even colder than the lows of Alaskan winters.

By early 1821, Bellingshausen and Lazarev had successfully navigated a majority of Antarctica, confirming its existence as a vast continent. The expedition’s meticulous mapping and scientific observations greatly expanded the world’s knowledge of the Southern Ocean and the Antarctic continent, which added crucial details to global maps.

Bellingshausen and Lazarev’s achievements were acknowledged internationally, as numerous geographic featured their names, including the Bellingshausen Sea and Lazarev Sea.