Crocker Land facts for kids
Crocker Land is the name given to a landmass that was once thought to be an eighth continent in the Arctic Ocean. In 1906, explorer Robert Peary believed he saw land far away. He named it after George Crocker, a member of his Arctic Club. Peary thought this land was about 130 miles (210 km) north of Ellesmere Island.
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Searching for Crocker Land
The Crocker Land Expedition (1913-1917)
In 1913, a large group set out to find Crocker Land. This journey was called the Crocker Land Expedition. It was led by Donald B. MacMillan. The team faced many problems from the start. Their first ship got stuck on rocks. The journey was very difficult and dangerous. The expedition members became stranded and could not get back home. They were finally rescued four years later, in 1917. The expedition did not find Crocker Land.
Later Discoveries About Crocker Land
Years later, in 1937–1938, another group called the MacGregor Arctic Expedition took pictures from the air. These photos showed that there was no land where Peary thought he saw it. Even with this proof, some groups still believe Crocker Land might exist.
Today, scientists believe that what Peary saw was a fata morgana. This is a type of mirage that happens when light bends through different layers of air. It can make faraway objects look like they are floating or much closer than they are. This means Crocker Land was likely just an optical illusion.
Images for kids
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Expedition members. From left to right: Harrison J. Hunt, Maurice C. Tanquary, W. Elmer Ekblaw, Donald B. MacMillan, Fitzhugh Green, and J. L. Allen.
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Minik Wallace as a child
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Spurlock Museum
See also
In Spanish: Expedición Tierra de Crocker para niños
