Biography

Nordernskjöld, a geologist, sailed from Gothenburg on 16 October 1901, on the "Antarctic", leading the expedition. In January 1902, the crew arrived in the South Shetlands. They soon came across many prominent geographical discoveries, the Orleans Strait joining the Gerlache Strait, the Louis-Philippe Land joining the Danco Land, and named the strait between the Peninsula and Joinville Island the "Antarctic Strait". In February 1902, Nordernskjöld and five of his crew wintered in a shelter on Snow Hill Island. During that time he discovered fossils at Mour Island and also set up depots. By December 1902, Nordernskjöld and his men awaited the return of the "Antarctic".

The "Antarctic" over wintered in Patagonia and South Georgia. On her way to Snow Hill Island, she dropped off three men, who would try to reach Nordernskjöld. On 12 February 1903, the ship was crushed by packed ice and sadly, she vanished to the bottom of the Antarctic waters. The crew over wintered on Paulet Island. On 12 October 1903, Nordernskjöld met up with the three men from Hope Bay and on 8 November 1903, an Argentinean Naval ship, the "Uruguay", saved the explorers from Seymour Island and Snow Hill.

On 11 November 1903, they were united with the rest of the crew on Paulet Island.