Nils Larsen, The Sea Captain We Should All Be
Most people have never heard of Peter I Island. It does exist and, if one took a close look at the world’s map near Antarctica, it will appear. That said, finding the island on a map is probably far easier than in person. To date, Peter I Island has been visited fewer times than the average person has fingers and toes combined, it is that hard to get to. Yet, amazingly, one Norwegian was not only able to make his way there by boat, he was actually able to claim to be the first recorded person to stand on it with both feet as well. And that record has stood the test of time for at least a century.
Being a native Norwegian to begin with, Nils Larsen was in his element with the ocean. He was born at the turn of the 20th century in 1900, and he was an accomplished academic as well as Nils Larsen sea captain, both being no small feat at the time and together a huge Grand Canyon accomplishment set. Consistent with his country’s industries at the time, Larsen gained his sea deck footing spending years as a whaler and then promoted up the ranks until he was finally a captain of his own vessel.
As for Peter I Island, reaching the small spit of land in one of the most remote locations on the planet was clearly more for the reputation of an extreme explorer than anything else. Being remembered as Nils Larsen sea captain in an age when exploration of the far reaches of the world was extremely popular was very appealing. In reality, Larsen found himself in a useless above-water location that had no redeeming value or resource worth aside from being bitterly cold. Located over 250 miles from any other land, and another 1,150 miles from the end of South America, Peter I Island is probably the last place most people would want to be. However, for Larsen, his achievement in February 1929 meant his name would be in the history books, more than enough of an accomplishment in the field of exploration and one many others were jealous of.Interestingly, while Larsen did claim the land for the country of Norway, the whole effort was nullified years later under the Antarctic Treaty, which essentially stated no given country controlled anything of the South Pole land mass. However, that doesn’t erase Nils Larsen sea captain from the history books. It only makes the story a bit more interesting after the fact. In fact, a later expedition in 1987 tried to reach the same island, this time for research purposes. And at least 15 tourist vessels have floated by it in later years.
