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What did James Clark Ross discover during his Antarctic expedition?
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Antarctica
Paradise Bay, Antarctica.
During his Antarctic expedition from 1839 to 1843, British naval officer Sir James Clark Ross made several significant geographical discoveries while commanding the Erebus and Terror.1
His primary findings included:
- The Ross Sea: Discovered in 1841, this body of water serves as a major indentation in the Antarctic continent.12
- Victoria Land: Ross identified this region while sailing toward the position of the south magnetic pole.1
- The Ross Ice Shelf: In 1841, he became the first explorer to sight the massive floating ice barrier that now bears his name.2
Additionally, Ross charted portions of the coast of Graham Land and navigated around the ice of the Weddell Sea. His expedition was primarily motivated by the goal of conducting magnetic observations and attempting to reach the south magnetic pole.1