First International Polar Year 1882-1883 National Historic Event
Quttinirpaaq National Park of Canada, Nunavut
First International Polar Year 1882-1883
(© None)
Address :
Fort Conger, Quttinirpaaq National Park of Canada, Nunavut
Recognition Statute:
Historic Sites and Monuments Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-4)
Designation Date:
1981-01-15
Other Name(s):
-
First International Polar Year 1882-1883
(Designation Name)
Research Report Number:
1981-20
Importance:
Scientific studies by 11 countries, 1882-83
Plaque(s)
Existing plaque: Quttinirpaaq National Park of Canada - Fort Conger, Nunavut
Additional plaque: Old Fort Rae, Northwest Territories
An international body of scientists designated a 12-month period in 1882-1883 as International Polar Year, and 11 countries sent 14 expeditions to polar regions to obtain magnetic, auroral, weather and other scientific data. Supported by other observatories around the world, this was the first major global study of natural phenomena. Fort Conger, one of three Polar Year sites in arctic Canada, was occupied 1881-1883 by an American expedition led by A.W. Greely. Although the programme was successfully completed, 18 men died on the return journey after scheduled relief ships failed to reach Ellesmere Island.