Vintage Photos Of Antarctica’s Frozen Hellscape

During the golden age of Antarctic expeditions, men risked their lives in this frozen wasteland — and brought back some incredible photos.

A wave, frozen while crashing through the air, frames Douglas Mawson's ship, the Aurora.
1911.National Library of Australia

At the dawn of the 20th century, men risked their lives venturing into the frozen lands of Antarctica and toward the South Pole. It was called the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, a name earned because so many of those men didn't make it back alive.

The wreck of the Gratitude, washed up among the penguins of Macquarie Island.
1911.State Library of New South Wales

Some of the stories that came out of this period of Antarctic expeditions are incredibly brutal. Over the course of 17 expeditions into Antarctica, 19 men died, some shattering their bones on the hard rocks of the frozen continent and others freezing under heavy blizzards.

A blizzard hits members of an expedition, just outside of their winter quarters.
1913.National Library of Australia

One of the most incredible stories of survival comes from the 1911 Australasian Antarctic Expedition. A crew, led by Douglas Mawson, sailed south on the Aurora and nestled into life in Antarctica. For more than two years, they lived in the coldest continent on earth, inching across lands that no human feet had ever touched in long, dangerous sledding expeditions.

A member of the First Australasian Antarctic Expedition explores an ice cavern near Commonwealth Bay.
Circa 1911-1914.State Library of New South Wales

In one of those trips, Mawson traveled into the wilderness with Xavier Mertz and Belgrave Ninnis. For three long weeks, the men traveled across the frozen earth with their sled dogs leading the way. Then a tragedy struck. Ninnis fell through a crevasse, taking six dogs with him.

The winter quarters of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, buried deep beneath the snow.
Circa 1911-1914.State Library of New South Wales

Mawson and Mertz were forced to turn back – but that meant traveling over nearly 300 miles of snow and ice. As their food ran low, they had to resort to eating their dogs to survive. Mertz got sick and died on the way, and Mawson was forced to leave his companion's body behind while he marched on alone for 30 more days. When he made it back, he was so changed that his men greeted him saying, "My God, which one are you?"

Cecil Madigan of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, with his face covered in snow
Circa 1911-1914.State Library of New South Wales

In time, Mawson's men returned home – but some of them went right back out, joining Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic exploration voyage on the Endurance. Shackleton's voyage went even worse. His ship got stuck in the ice, and though his men spent nine months trying to get it loose, it ended up crashing under the sea.

Harold Hamilton, an Antarctic explorer, stands in front of the imposing skeleton of an Elephant Seal.
Circa 1911-1914.State Library of New South Wales

The men were forced to make a home on the frozen shores of Elephant Island. They spent more than three months there, waiting for rescue. Meanwhile, Shackleton and five other men boarded a tiny lifeboat and sailed off on an 800 mile-long journey across the Antarctic Sea, in search of help.

Robert Bage stands at the entrance to the Australasian Antarctic Expedition's Astronomic Observatory.
Circa 1911-1914.State Library of New South Wales

The Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration was an incredible and dangerous moment in our history – and we have some absolutely beautiful photos of it all, thanks to the photographer Frank Hurley, who joined both Mawson and Shackleton on their journeys. Hurley risked his life on both Antarctic expeditions to bring us back a glimpse of a frozen world.

The kitchen in the shelter used by the First Australasian Antarctic Expedition.
Circa 1911-1914.State Library of New South Wales

A puppy named Blizzard.
Circa 1911-1914.State Library of New South Wales

Xavier Mertz climbs out of a trapdoor in the roof of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition's shelter. The building has been snowed in above the ceiling.
Circa 1911-1914.State Library of New South Wales

A team of huskies pull a member of the First Australasian Antarctic Expedition.
Circa 1911-1914.State Library of New South Wales

Dog teams scout a way for the explorers to pass through the rough Antarctic land.
Circa 1914-1917.State Library of New South Wales

Xavier Mertz climbing an ice ravine.
After Ninnis fell through a crevasse, Mertz and Mawson would struggle to make it back to base, being forced to eat their sled dogs on the way. Mertz would not back it alive.
1912.State Library of New South Wales

The Australasian Antarctic Expedition's Frank Bickerton looking out over the sea from Commonwealth Bay.
Circa 1911-1914.State Library of New South Wales

A mushroom ice formation.
1912.State Library of New South Wales

Bob Bage and J. Hunter traveling through unexplored land on their sledges.
Circa 1911-1914.State Library of New South Wales

Douglas Mawson, carving out ice, leans against a 100 mph wind.
Circa 1911-1914.National Library of Australia

Xavier Mertz, Belgrave Ninnis, and Herbert Murphy head to Aladdin's Cave. Murphy alone would return from Antarctica alive.
1912.Wikimedia Commons

Xavier Mertz outside of the main base.
1912.State Library of New South Wales