This summary describes an expedition to Antarctica led by Australian explorer Douglas Mawson. The expedition, known as the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, took place in 1912. Mawson and his team faced numerous challenges, including treacherous crevasses, extreme cold, and a shortage of food. Tragically, one member of the team, Lieutenant Belgrave Ninnis, fell into a crevasse and was lost. To survive, Mawson and another team member, Xavier Mertz, had to resort to killing and eating their sled dogs. As their condition deteriorated, they were forced to abandon equipment and push the sled themselves. The expedition's ship, the Aurora, left the base camp before they could return, leaving them in a dire situation. Xavier Mertz's health deteriorated further, and he became delirious. The summary ends with the harrowing situation of Mawson and Mertz struggling for survival.
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Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Douglas Mawson, an Australian explorer with a background in sciences, planned an Antarctic expedition in 1911.
2. He secured funding from the King of England, the Australian government, and mining companies.
3. The expedition consisted of 90 people organized into five different groups.
4. Mawson's group included Lieutenant Belgrave Ninnis and Xavier Mertz.
5. The expedition used sleds and huskies to traverse the harsh Antarctic terrain.
6. They faced challenges like crevasses, extreme cold, and a lack of visibility due to sun reflection.
7. Ninnis fell into a crevasse and disappeared, leaving Mawson and Mertz in a perilous situation.
8. They had to choose between two options for survival: reach the coast or cut through the land.
9. They decided to cut through the land, which meant sacrificing their remaining dogs for food.
10. Mertz became seriously ill, and his condition deteriorated rapidly.
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