British Southern Cross Expedition crosses the Antarctic Circle

Background. The Southern Cross Expedition, otherwise known as the British Antarctic Expedition, 1898–1900, was the first British venture of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. It was the brainchild of the Norwegian explorer Carsten Borchgrevink and became the first expedition to over-winter on the Antarctic mainland. Borchgrevink's party sailed in the ship Southern Cross.

The Crossing. After departing Hobart, Tasmania, in December 1898, the Southern Cross sailed south. The vessel crossed the Antarctic Circle on 23 January 1899. This latitude marks the boundary where the sun remains continuously above or below the horizon for 24 hours at least once per year. The crossing occurred before the ship reached Cape Adare in February.

Aftermath. Following the crossing, the expedition faced a three-week delay in pack ice. The ship sighted Cape Adare on 16 February 1899 and anchored close to the shore the following day. The party spent the southern winter of 1899 at Cape Adare, the northwest extremity of the Ross Sea coastline. On its return to Britain the expedition was coolly received by London's geographical establishment, exemplified by the Royal Geographical Society.