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TERRA AUSTRALIS
The
Lure of Antarctica (Paperback - 20 Oct 2010)
Robert D. Morritt
Availability
Terra Australis describes the
geological evolution of Antarctica, from its ancient continental landmass
millions of years ago that broke away from Vaalbara, Kenorland and
Gondwanaland A land once ice-free as evident from the discovery of species
and geological assessments that indicated evidence of a warmer continent that
had drifted southwards.
 Antarctica today is a harsh very
cold place with minus three digit temperatures. An environment that has daunted the hopes of many an
exploration party due to its harsh climate and inhospitable landscape.
The book describes nautical
voyages to the South Atlantic over the ages.
One particular voyage, of Gabriel de Castilla (On an expedition to
suppress incursions of Dutch) has been estimated to have sailed to a latitude
of 64 degrees south in the Southern ocean, south of what was later known as
Drake’s passage, which if correct, would have been the furthest that any
vessel had traveled at that time.
The Antarctic expeditions are
included of Rasmussen, Shackleton and the ill-fated race to the South by
‘Scott of the Antarctic’ and his team and describes events that conspired
against them and resulted in tragedy.
Theories of an earth-shift
supported by Einstein are considered which supposed that a slippage occurred
of earth’s 8000 mile thick central core which in the earliest times forced
large parts of the western hemisphere southward toward the equator and from
there to the Antarctic circle. The possibility that a scientist will one day
discover an early hominid fossil, may not be far-fetched as Antarctica was
once joined to South Africa the earliest residence of humanoid culture.
A listing of international
geophysical research stations in Antarctica is included to show the continent
has a modern resident population comprised of researchers and scientists
which are the only human inhabitants of the continent
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