6 Exploration Expeditions That Ended Tragically

Exploration that has made history

S. A. Andrée and Knut Frænkel with the crashed balloon on the pack ice, photographed by the third expedition member, Nils Strindberg. By Nils Strindberg — http://www.xs4all.nl/~pal/andree.htm., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=623204

In history, there are stories of exploratory expeditions that failed. These explorers not only fail but also have to deal with the tragic ending of their life. Some vanished as if swallowed up by the Earth, while some were found in unfavorable conditions. Here are six exploration expeditions that ended tragically.

1. Salomon August Andrée

By Gösta Florman (1831–1900) — This file was provided to Wikimedia Commons by the Nordiska Museet as part of a cooperation project with Wikimedia Sverige., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14573456.

Salomon August Andrée was a Swedish engineer, physicist, aeronaut, and polar explorer. In 1897, he boldly embarked on a dangerous expedition called the Polar Expedition. The expedition was trying to reach the North Pole using a hot air balloon called the Ornen ( The Eagle), something no one had ever done at the time.

Andrée then left with two of his colleague's engineer Knut Frænkel and photographer Nils Strindberg. The plan for this expedition had been dangerous from the start. Many people thought that they would never be able to reach the Arctic region at that time. But Andrée remained in his belief and hoped the expedition would succeed.