Ramón Hernando de Larramendi facts for kids
Ramón Hernando de Larramendi (born in Madrid, Spain, in 1965) is a brave Spanish explorer and traveler. He is famous for creating and using a special vehicle called the WindSled. This unique sled is designed for scientific research in cold places like Antarctica and Greenland. Ramón has traveled over 40,000 kilometers in these icy regions!
One of his biggest achievements was the Circumpolar Expedition in the Arctic. He traveled 14,000 kilometers using only a dog sled and a kayak. This amazing journey took three years and helped him plan his future adventures. In recent years, Ramón has led many trips to Antarctica and Greenland with his WindSled. His main goal is for the WindSled to help scientists learn more about our planet. Ramón has won several awards for his work. He has also written books about his experiences and the Inuit people. He is a member of the board of directors for the Spanish Geographic Society. Ramón spends part of each year living in southern Greenland.
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Ramón's Early Adventures
In 1985, when Ramón was just 19, he skied across the Pyrenees mountains. He went from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea in 53 days! He even did it again the next year by himself. Also in 1985, he was part of a group that skied across Iceland through its three largest glaciers. This feat earned him his first award, the Nescafé Prize. This prize helped him fund his next big trip: the first Spanish journey across the Greenland icecap. This "TransGreenland Expedition" covered 700 kilometers in 55 days.
In 1988, he led the first trip around the Iberian Peninsula by kayak. He paddled 3,500 kilometers in just 108 days! The next year, 1989, he kayaked another 2,500 kilometers along the coast of Norway, from north to south.
The Amazing Circumpolar Expedition
In 1990, Ramón started his incredible Circumpolar Expedition. For three years, from February 12, 1990, to March 25, 1993, he traveled 14,000 kilometers. He went from Greenland to Alaska, through the Northwest Passage. He used only dog sleds and kayaks for this journey. This adventure was featured in National Geographic magazine, making him known worldwide.
During this expedition, at age 25, he reached the North Geomagnetic Pole. This made him the youngest explorer to do so! Throughout his journey, he lived with the Inuit people and learned their language and culture. Other explorers like Manuel Olivera, Antonio Martínez, and Rafael Peche joined him for parts of the trip.
Exploring Greenland with the WindSled
Ramón knew Greenland well even before his Circumpolar Expedition. In 1986, he was a key part of the first Spanish expedition to Greenland's ice cap. They skied 700 kilometers in 55 days.
In 1999, he began designing a special sled that could move across icy lands using large kites. This was the start of the WindSled! In 2000, after testing it in Canada, he returned to Greenland with an early version. He used it to travel 600 kilometers for a TV show. The next year, in 2001, he organized the Trans-Greenland Expedition 2001. He traveled 2,225 kilometers in just 32 days with a new WindSled, which he called the 'polar catamaran'. On this trip, he set a world record for the longest distance traveled in one day. He also opened a new north-south route on the Arctic island, from Narsaq to Qaanaaq.
In 2002, he went back to Greenland for another WindSled trip. He crossed Greenland from south to north, covering 2,300 kilometers in 33 days. He returned in 2003 for another expedition, traveling 700 kilometers from east to west in 18 days.
By August 2016, Ramón had completed six expeditions with different WindSled designs in Greenland. A notable trip was in 2014, when he completed the first trip around Greenland's ice dome with a wind vehicle. He covered 4,300 kilometers!
Another important expedition was from May 15 to June 25, 2016. He reached the Greenland ice summit, which is 3,240 meters high. He carried 2,000 kilograms of supplies over a 2,000-kilometer route that took 38 days. In his last two expeditions, Ramón collected data for Spanish scientific projects. These projects focused on climate change in the Arctic. He also worked with American glaciologist Jason Box.
Besides his WindSled trips, Ramón has done many shorter expeditions in southern Greenland and the Thule region (northwest Greenland). He used dog sleds and traveled along the coast. In 1995 and 1996, he spent two full winters near the North Pole, living and traveling with the Inuit. He has also joined mountain climber Jesus Calleja on polar expeditions for TV shows.
Adventures in Antarctica
Transantarctic Expedition 2005-2006
In 2005, Ramón traveled to Antarctica for the first time with his WindSled. This was the Transantarctic Expedition 2005–2006. It was the first time in history that someone crossed this continent using a vehicle powered by clean, renewable energy. He proved that, just like in Greenland, it was possible to travel across the icy desert with a kite-powered vehicle.
On December 14, 2005, Ramón, along with Juan Manuel Viu and Ignacio Oficialdegui, achieved a major global milestone. They were the first in history to reach the Pole of Inaccessibility in the Southern Hemisphere. This is the hardest point to reach in Antarctica because it is the furthest from the ocean. They traveled 4,500 kilometers in 62 days.
South Pole Without Limits
In 2009, Ramón led the 'South Pole without limits' expedition. This was the first expedition to the South Pole that included people with disabilities. In 12 days, the team skied and used sleds to reach the Geographic South Pole. They covered 250 kilometers without using animals or engines.
Acciona Windpowered Antarctic Expedition
Six years after his first WindSled trip to Antarctica, Ramón led the Acciona Windpowered Antarctic Expedition in the winter of 2011–2012. This was the first time someone reached the South Geographic Pole (traveling 2,200 kilometers in 18 days) using only wind power. In total, they covered 3,500 kilometers in 34 days.
This expedition was the first time the WindSled was used for its main purpose: to explore and collect scientific samples. They gathered data for research institutes in France and Spain, including the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Autonomous University of Madrid. The Spanish Geographic Society recognized this adventure with an award in 2012. Juan Pablo Albar, Javier Selva, and Ignacio Oficialdegui also joined this expedition.
Other Arctic Expeditions
Reaching the Geographic North Pole
Since 1998, Ramón has worked with the TV show 'Al filo de lo imposible'. With their team, he went on a skiing expedition and reached the Magnetic North Pole. In 1999, he was part of the first and only Spanish expedition in history to reach the Geographic North Pole. They skied 1,000 kilometers from Siberia in 60 days.
Ramón's Projects
The WindSled (Inuit WindSled)
The WindSled is a special vehicle designed by Ramón Hernando de Larramendi. Its goal is to be a helpful moving platform for scientists exploring polar lands. It has already traveled over 18,000 kilometers!
It is a clean way to travel, powered by the strong polar winds. It is easy to move and works very well. The WindSled's basic structure uses wooden platforms with crossbars and rails, just like traditional Inuit sleds. It uses kites of different sizes and has tents for living and working.
Since its first design in 1999, the WindSled has been improved many times through Ramón's expeditions. It gets its energy from the wind and the sun, using kites and solar panels to power its equipment. The current model has four parts and is like a convoy, 10 to 15 meters long and three meters wide. It can carry six people and 2,000 kilograms of supplies. The project aims to create a scientific program where the WindSled acts as a mobile laboratory that creates zero pollution in the delicate polar environments. It was first called 'Polar catamaran', then 'Antarctic Butterfly', and finally WindSled.
Inuit Climate Change Patrol
Ramón H. Larramendi has started a project in the Thule region of northwest Greenland. He wants to help protect the traditional Inuit way of life and study how climate change is affecting this area. Ramón's goal is to help make sure this important culture does not disappear.
Greenland Net Travel Agency
In 1997, Ramón founded Greenland Net, a travel agency that specializes in trips to the Polar Regions. It was one of the first of its kind. It operates in Spain, Italy, and Greenland.
Awards and Recognitions
- Nescafé Prize 'Tu aventura vale un millón'
- Travel Year 2001 Award from the Spanish Geographic Society.
- Enterprise 2012 Award (Acciona) from the Spanish Geographic Society.
- International Prize Feat MARCA DIARY
See also
In Spanish: Ramón Hernando de Larramendi para niños
