Ramón Hernando de Larramendi facts for kids
Ramón Hernando de Larramendi (born in Madrid, Spain, in 1965) is a famous Spanish explorer and adventurer. He is known for creating and using a special vehicle called the WindSled. This unique sled helps scientists explore cold places like Antarctica and Greenland. Ramón has traveled over 40,000 kilometers in these icy lands.
One of his biggest adventures was the Circumpolar Expedition in the Arctic. He traveled 14,000 kilometers using only a dog sled and a kayak. This amazing trip took three years. It helped him prepare for all his future projects. Ramón has led many trips to Antarctica and Greenland with his WindSled. His main goal is to use the WindSled for scientific research in the polar regions. He has won several awards for his work. Ramón has also written books about his adventures and the Inuit people. He was part of the TV show 'Al filo de lo imposible' ('Edge of the Impossible'). He spends part of each year living in southern Greenland.
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Early Adventures and Explorations
In 1985, when Ramón was 19, he skied across the Pyrenees mountains. He went from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea in 53 days. He did this trip again by himself the next year. Also in 1985, he was part of a group that skied across Iceland. They crossed its three largest glaciers. This achievement earned him his first award, the Nescafé Prize.
This prize helped him pay for his next big trip. It was the first Spanish journey across the Greenland icecap. This "TransGreenland Expedition" covered 700 kilometers in 55 days. In 1988, he also led the first kayak trip around the Iberian Peninsula. He paddled 3,500 kilometers in just 108 days. The next year, 1989, he kayaked 2,500 kilometers along the coast of Norway.
The Circumpolar Expedition
In 1990, Ramón started a huge adventure called the Circumpolar Expedition. For three years, from 1990 to 1993, he traveled 14,000 kilometers. He went from Greenland to Alaska through the Northwest Passage. He used only a dog sled and a kayak for this journey. This adventure was featured in National Geographic magazine. This made him a well-known explorer around the world.
During this trip, he reached the North Geomagnetic Pole when he was only 25. This made him the youngest explorer to do so. While traveling, he lived with the Inuit people. He learned their language and their way of life. 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 before his Circumpolar Expedition. In 1986, he was a key part of the first Spanish trip to the polar ice cap. This "Trans-Greenland Expedition" covered 700 kilometers on skis.
In 1999, he started designing a special sled that uses wind power. This sled moves across icy lands with large kites. In 2000, after testing it in Canada, he went back to Greenland. He used an early version of the WindSled for a 600-kilometer trip. This trip was filmed for a TV show. In 2001, he organized another "Trans-Greenland Expedition." He traveled 2,225 kilometers in just 32 days. He used 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 route from north to south on the Arctic island.
In 2002, he returned to Greenland for another WindSled journey. He crossed Greenland from south to north, covering 2,300 kilometers in 33 days. He came back in 2003 for another trip, crossing Greenland from east to west. He traveled 700 kilometers in 18 days.
By 2016, Ramón had completed six expeditions with different WindSled designs in Greenland. A notable trip was in 2014. It was the first time a wind vehicle went all the way around Greenland's ice dome. He covered 4,300 kilometers on this journey.
Another important trip was from May to June 2016. He reached the top of the Greenland ice cap, which is 3,240 meters high. He carried 2,000 kilograms of supplies on a 2,000-kilometer route. This trip took 38 days. In these last two expeditions, he collected data for scientific projects. These projects were about climate change in the Arctic. Ramón also worked with American glaciologist Jason Box.
Besides these WindSled trips, Ramón has done many shorter expeditions. He has explored the southern part of the ice cap and the Thule region in northwest Greenland. He used dog sleds and traveled along the coast. In 1995 and 1996, he spent two full winters near the North Pole. He lived and traveled with the Inuit people. He has also joined mountain climber Jesus Calleja on polar expeditions for TV shows.
Antarctic Expeditions
First WindSled Crossing of Antarctica
In 2005, Ramón traveled to Antarctica for the first time with his WindSled. This was called 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 the WindSled could travel across the icy desert, just like in Greenland. Ramón was joined by Juan Manuel Viu and Ignacio Oficialdegui.
On December 14, 2005, they made a major global achievement. 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 trip to the South Pole that included people with disabilities. The team traveled 250 kilometers on skis and sleds. They reached the Geographic South Pole in 12 days 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 2011–2012. This was the first time anyone reached the South Geographic Pole (traveling 2,200 kilometers in 18 days) using a vehicle powered by wind energy. 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 samples for research institutes in France and Spain. The Spanish Geographic Society gave this adventure an award in 2012. Juan Pablo Albar, Javier Selva, and Ignacio Oficialdegui also took part in 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 to the Magnetic North Pole. In 1999, he was part of the first and only Spanish expedition to reach the Geographic North Pole. They skied 1,000 kilometers from Siberia in 60 days.
Special Projects
The WindSled (Inuit WindSled)
The WindSled is a special vehicle designed by Ramón Hernando de Larramendi. Its main goal is to be a helpful moving platform for scientists. It allows them to explore the polar lands without causing pollution. The WindSled uses the strong polar winds to move. It is easy to transport and works very well.
The WindSled is made of several wooden platforms with crossbars and rails. This design is based on traditional Inuit sleds. It uses large kites for power and has tents for living and working. Since its first design in 1999, Ramón has made many improvements through his expeditions. The WindSled gets its energy from wind and sun. Kites and solar panels power its equipment. The current model has four parts and is like a convoy. It is 10 to 15 meters long and three meters wide. It can carry six people and 2,000 kilograms of supplies. The project aims to use the WindSled as a mobile laboratory. This lab would create 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. He also wants to research the impact of climate change in 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. This travel agency was one of the first to organize trips to the Polar Regions. It works in Spain, Italy, and Greenland.
Awards and Recognition
- Nescafé Prize 'Tu aventura vale un millón' (Your adventure is worth a million)
- 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
