Endurance Found!

I mentioned that I was doing some reading on Antarctic history.  Most of the explorers' diaries are a total slog.  I ended up reading Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing.  

Seriously, this is an incredible story.  Endurance was the name of Shackleton's ship which became trapped in the ice in the Weddell Sea.  He and his crew lived on ship for about a year before it was crushed and eventually sank. Then they lived for many months on the ice.  And then when the ice started to melt, they made a harrowing dash for land in three tiny boats.  The hardships they endured were unbelievable. 

Anyway, as I was reading the book, I googled some stuff and found out that there was currently a group searching for the Endurance at the bottom of the Weddell Sea, which is very deep, and very cold and usually frozen and/or stormy. So, not easy but Shackelton had recorded the exact location of the ship when it sank. 

Today, they found it!!! And it is intact and upright!  So beautiful.  

There was a photographer, Frank Hurley,  on board the original voyage so here is what it looks like trapped in the ice.  

Intact

Crushed by the ice

Living on the ice

Here's a History Channel summary of the story that I haven't read

Here's a video of the wreck if you just want to see how cool it is! 

Here's info on the expedition to find the Endurance. 

This one is for Amy: