arctic ocean

A dramatic account of the ill-fated 19th-century naval expedition to the North Pole cites the contributions of German cartographer August Peterman, New York Herald owner James Gordon Bennett and famed naval officer George Washington De Long in the team's efforts to survive brutal environmental conditions.

Looks at how in 1942 four convoy ships survived in an ice field in the arctic ocean while fleeing Nazi forces.

Examines the geography, weather, animals, people, and resources of the Arctic Ocean. Includes fact boxes, a quiz, color photographs, a glossary, and further resources.

Provides an introduction to the Arctic Ocean, describing its relatively shallow continental shelf and its underwater mountains, along with the people and animals that survive in the freezing cold conditions.

In the late nineteenth century, people were obsessed by one of the last unmapped areas of the globe: the North Pole. No one knew what existed beyond the fortress of ice rimming the Arctic seas, although there were lots of theories. Wealthy and prominent people funded expeditions and so it was that James Gordon Bennett, Jr., owner of The New York Herald, sent an official U.S. naval expedition to reach the Pole. On July 8, 1879, the USS Jeannette set sail from San Francisco. Leader George Washington De Long led a team of thirty-two men deep into uncharted waters. Two years later, after journeying north of the Bering Strait, they found themselves trapped in pack ice. The ship's hull was fatally breached, the Jeannette sank to the bottom of the Arctic Ocean, and the men found themselves marooned on the ice cap nearly a thousand miles north of Siberia with three open boats and only the barest supplies. Thus began their long march across the frozen sea---an ordeal that ranks as one of the greatest struggles for survival in history.

Provides detailed descriptions of each species as well as an introduction to the classification of cetaceans.

Introduces the earth's smallest ocean, and provides instructions for an activity to demonstrate how ice floats.

Describes the physical characteristics, plant and animal life, explorers, and environmental problems of the world's smallest ocean, the Arctic. Includes Internet links to web sites related to oceans.

Describes the disastrous voyage from Iceland to Russia of the supply-laden allied convoy PQ 17 during the summer of 1942.

Recounts the mission of Convoy PQ 17, a group of merchant ships sailing in arctic seas and carrying supplies for the Allied forces during World War II. Describes how the vessels and crew responded when they were attacked by U-boats and bombers and terrorized by the most powerful battleship in the German navy, the "Tirpitz.".