Image of One Tone Camp in January 1912, before it was buried by winter snows. The piles of equipment and the flag were meant to make it easier for the expedition to locate it on its way back from the South Pole.
« One Ton Depot » - Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica, 1910
The backgroundThe Terra Nova Expedition (1910–1913), led by Robert Falcon Scott, was Britain’s bold quest to claim the South Pole during the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.
Backed partly by the British government and scientific societies, Scott aimed to secure the Pole for the Empire. Despite earlier Antarctic experience from his Discovery Expedition (1901–1904), this journey ended in tragedy, marking it as a bittersweet chapter in exploration history.
One Ton Depot
The One Ton Depot was a supply depot established during the Terra Nova Expedition in Antarctica. Its purpose was to serve as a crucial resupply point for the expedition's return from the South Pole. However, it was placed 56 km short of its planned location due to challenging weather and poor conditions.
This miscalculation contributed to the failure of Scott's team to survive the return journey, as they perished just 18 km from the depot due to exhaustion, starvation, and extreme weather.
The mission
The One Ton Depot was established at latitude 79°29′S, approximately 210 km south of Cape Evans.
Due to the dynamic nature of the Antarctic environment, including shifting ice and snow accumulation, the exact current location of the depot is uncertain.
Over time, it has likely been buried under snow and ice or moved from its original position. Therefore, pinpointing its precise location today is challenging.
The mission utilizes advanced Machine Learning algorithms to determine the precise location of the One Ton Depot, currently buried beneath the Ross Ice Shelf.
