South Pole

South Pole, 90°S, is on the Antarctica. The Continent is covered with thick ice, up to 4 km. The ice is constantly flowing towards the edges of the continent. From time to time huge icebergs are calving from that ice to the seas surrounding the continent. In some points the the ice reaches 4000 m above sea level. The Continent is cold and windy, the air is flowing towards the edges causing Catabatic Winds. During the Antarctic summer, when the conditions are most favourable to man, temperature on the Pole is usually - 30° C. The lowest temperature on the earth is measured on Soviet Vostok-station, -89,7°C.

Our international Expedition started skiing to the pole from Hercules Inlet on 3rd November -99. We were at the Pole 4th January -00. Our aim was to celebrate New Millenium at the Pole, but the weather was bad in the beginning, therefore causing delays. We also had several days off because of storms.

It´s nice weather,-24°C. I carry the Finnish Flag on my sledge because of Independence´s Day in Finland December 6th. At the very moment the picture was taken by Victor, big whigs in Finland celebrated the Day in the President Palace, last time with president Ahtisaari. After Ahtisaari, Ms. Tarja Halonen was elected to the President of Finland on the same day as the president was also elected in Chile. I spent my time in Santiago waiting for the flight to Finland. In Santiago the celebration was on the streets. No alcohol was sold anywhere in Chile during the election days.

The area of the Continent is 14 Mkm2. Are of Finland is n. 337.000 km2 and compared to Antarctica feels like nothing. Still, Finland is by area one of the largest countries in Europe.

The distance from our starting point on the Sea ice to the pole was 1150 km. The actual distance was larger because we could not take the shortest way because of crevass areas etc..

I was the first finn ever to ski to the Pole from the shoreline. Now Timo Polari has also done the trip (-01). To ski to the North Pole can be still more demanding. As expected, the conditions are hard to predict at both places.