Voyage au Pole Sud et dans l'Océanie sur les corvettes l'Astrolabe et la Zélée
Exécuté par ordre du roi pendant les années 1837–1838–1839–1840

The ten-volume report, published 1841–6, by the French explorer and ethnographer who discovered new Antarctic territory during his expedition.

Jules-Sébastien-César Dumont d'Urville (Author)

9781108049894, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 24 May 2012

376 pages
21.6 x 14 x 2.1 cm, 0.48 kg

In 1836, the French King Louis-Philippe, enthusiastic for Southern Hemisphere exploration, supported J. Dumont d'Urville's plan for a circumnavigation focusing on the South Seas. D'Urville (1790–1842) had already distinguished himself on two Pacific expeditions and was eager to rival the achievements of James Cook. Between 1837 and 1840, the ships Astrolabe and Zélée explored the waters of the Antarctic area and Oceania in extremely harsh conditions: almost forty crew members died or deserted. However, d'Urville discovered a new portion of the Antarctic coast, shed light on the ethnography of several Pacific islands and brought back multitudes of botanical specimens. His impressive contributions to the fields of geography, natural history and ethnography were gathered in this ten-volume work, published between 1841 and 1846. Volume 2, published in 1842, traces d'Urville's first heroic but failed attempt at locating the south magnetic pole in 1838, and his return to Chile.

10. Des navigations vers le pole Antarctique
11. Du Détroit de Magellan à la première banquise
12. Première reconnaisance de la banquise et des îles New-South-Orkney
13. Entrée et séjour dans la banquise
14. Seconde exploration de la banquise et des îles New-South-Orkney
15. Reconnaisance des îles New-South-Shetland
16. Traversée des îles New-South-Shetland à Talcahuano
Notes.

Subject Areas: Historical geography [HBTP]