Did you know that Amundsen was actually supposed to go to the
North Pole? When Roald Amundsen set sail from Kristiansand 10
August 1910 on his way to the South Pole, everyone believed he
was on his way to the North Pole. In 1907, Amundsen asked Nansen
if he could use Fram to explore the Arctic Ocean, and hopefully
also reach the North Pole. Nansen made him wait quite a while
before answering. Nansen had not yet completely given up his own
dream to use Fram to reach the North Pole. Eventually Amundsen
was allowed to borrow the vessel to accomplish what Nansen had
set out to do in the Fram expedition of 1893–96. Amundsen was
better prepared; he would take along newly constructed
scientific instruments and would hopefully return home with
knowledge that could give scientists new and better
understanding of the central regions of the Arctic. Many hoped
he would also plant the Norwegian flag on the North Pole. In
1909 the news came that Frederick Cook had been at the North
Pole, just after Robert Peary claimed to