Ross is not only the name of the famous Russian fort in California. Everyone knows that today it is a US National Historic Landmark. Ross is the surname of two English polar sailors. It is to them - uncle and nephew, John and James Clark - that the honor of discovering the Earth's North Magnetic Pole belongs. And a few years after this event, James Ross almost approached the South Magnetic Pole.
John Ross (uncle). Arctic
John Ross (1777-1856) began his service in the Royal Navy of Great Britain at the age of 9 as a cabin boy, was smart and inquisitive. As a military sailor, he sailed in the Mediterranean and North Seas, took part in the Napoleonic Wars. In the B altic, he fought with Russian sailors, was in Swedish captivity, and upon his return served in the North and B altic Seas.
As a polar explorer, John Ross made three Arctic voyages. In the first (1819), he explored the western coast of Greenland, discovered the polar Eskimos (the northernmost inhabitants of the Earth), reached almost 77 degrees north latitude,tracked the eastern coast of Baffin Island and made adjustments to the maps that existed at that time.
In the second campaign, in 1829-1833, with four winterings, with the participation of his nephew James, John Ross made many discoveries. In addition to determining the location of the Earth's North Magnetic Pole, his expedition discovered the Boothia Peninsula and examined its shores, discovered King William Island and the James Ross Strait (this is one of the straits between the Boothia Peninsula and King William Island).
The third campaign (1850-1851) was equipped to search for John Franklin, but was not crowned with success.
James Clark Ross (nephew). Antarctica
James Clark Ross (1800-1862) made his first serious voyage at the age of 12 under his uncle, and by the age of 18 he was an experienced sailor. He has several trips to the Arctic, including in the team of John Ross. But the main fame for him was brought by unheard of at that time research near the South Pole.
In 1839, the younger Ross set off for Antarctica in two old, slow, heavy, but sturdy ships. In 1842, James became the first navigator to reach 78 degrees south latitude. He discovered two Antarctic volcanoes, which he named after the ships of the expedition: Terror and Erebus. He discovered the sea off the coast of Antarctica and the largest ice shelf, which are named after him. Due to severe weather and ice conditions, sailing ships had a difficult time.
Despite this, Ross took a large number of measurements onshores of Antarctica and quite accurately determined where the South Pole is located. However, landing on the mainland proved impossible. The Ross expedition, whose significance for the geographical sciences is enormous, lasted four years and in 1843 returned to England almost in full force.
Today, Ross is not just the name of famous polar sailors. The Ross expeditions brought many benefits to the world and laid the groundwork for further exploration of the Arctic and Antarctic.
