Captain Cook becomes the first European to cross the Antarctic Circle

Background. Cook's second voyage was commissioned in 1772 to investigate the hypothetical continent Terra Australis. He selected HMS Resolution, a ship of the same type as his previous vessel, for this mission. The expedition departed England and stopped at Cape Town in November 1772. In late November, the crew sighted icebergs and successfully melted them to produce fresh water, proving sea ice could be a source of drinking water.

The Crossing. On 17 January 1773, the crews of HMS Resolution and HMS Adventure became the first recorded Europeans to cross the Antarctic Circle. This event marked a significant achievement in navigation and exploration. The Antarctic Circle is the most southerly of the five major circles of latitude. The crossing occurred during the second voyage, which was focused on determining the existence of Terra Australis.

Aftermath. Following the crossing, the ships continued their search for Terra Australis. In February 1773, Resolution and Adventure became separated in dense Antarctic fog. The expedition later reached its most southern latitude of 71°10′S in January 1774. The voyage concluded with the publication of books in 1777, documenting the expedition's findings and experiences.