Death Zone

Sapphire Band 16

Death Zone:

Extreme Exploration

Extreme Exploration

DEATH ZONE: EXTREME EXPLORATION

Death Zone:

This book is about extreme exploration. Adventure with the bravest explorers up the highest mountains, down into the deepest seas, across parched deserts – and even into space!

An information book collins.co.uk/collinsbigcat

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Paul Harrison

21/10/2021 17:52

Death Zone: Extreme Exploration

Written by Paul Harrison

Contents 1 Introduction

2

9 Shifting sands

36

2 All around the world

4

3 Down in the depths

12

10 At the bottom of the world

40

4 On top of the world

16

5 Going underground

20

6 River routes

24

7 Welcome to the jungle 28 8 Secrets of the seas

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11 To infinity and beyond 44 12 Into the future

48

13 Great explorers

50

Exploring different places

54

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1 Introduction Why do we explore? Why do we need to know what lies over the horizon? In the beginning we did it because we had to – to find food or shelter, for example. Later we explored for the challenge. When the mountaineer George Mallory was asked why he wanted to climb Mount Everest, his reply was simply, “Because it’s there.”

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However, our desire to explore sometimes comes at a price. Venturing into the unknown is difficult and dangerous. Sometimes explorers pay the ultimate price and never return. Yet we still push on to find out more, venturing into the most extreme and deadly environments: the highest mountains; the deepest seas; parched deserts; and even into space. These are the places that push us to our very limits – and beyond!

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2 All around the world Imagine what it must feel like travelling into the unknown. Although the ancient Greeks knew the earth was round, many, many people believed the world was flat. There was only one way to find out for sure – to sail around the world or fall off the edge trying.

Fame and fortune The first expedition to try and sail all the way around the world was led by the Portuguese sailor Ferdinand Magellan. Even those people who believed the world was round thought he was mad to try and attempt it. If sea monsters didn’t get him, then deadly killer fogs certainly would. His chances of surviving the journey were practically nil.

Nevertheless, in 1519 he set off from Spain with five ships and a crew of around 260 people. Although Magellan imagined the voyage would lead to fame and fortune, it did not turn out as he’d hoped.

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Ferdinand Magellan

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Magellan was not a popular leader. In the first winter, some of his crew rebelled and he had them executed. He also lost two ships. As they sailed across the Pacific, some of his crew starved to death and others got scurvy – a deadly disease caused by a lack of vitamins. Then, when Magellan arrived at the Philippines, he attacked a local tribe and was killed in the resulting battle. Magellan’s voyage was over.

NORTH AMERICA

AT L A N T I C OCEAN PA C I F I C OCEAN

SOUTH AMERICA

Route of Magellan and Elcano’s voyage

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The expedition continued though and, against all the odds, returned to Spain under the command of Juan Sebastian de Elcano. The expedition had proved that it was possible to sail all the way around the world. Success came at a terrible price, however – only one ship and 18 men survived the journey.

ARCTIC OCEAN

EUROPE

A S I A

AFRICA

PA C I F I C OCEAN

Magellan was killed here on the island of Mactan.

INDIAN OCEAN

O CE A N I A

SOUTHERN

OCEAN

7 A N T A R C T I C A

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The impossible passage Circumnavigating the world was dangerous, difficult and time-consuming. If a route over the top of North America linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans could be found, it would cut thousands of kilometres off the distance.

The hunt for the so-called Northwest Passage was on – but at a cost no one imagined.

A

R O

C C

T E

I

C

A

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Northwest Passage

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(Denmark)

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Victoria

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Island

M Melvill Melville e P Peninsu Peninsula

C A N A D A 8

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Sapphire Band 16

Death Zone:

Extreme Exploration

Extreme Exploration

DEATH ZONE: EXTREME EXPLORATION

Death Zone:

This book is about extreme exploration. Adventure with the bravest explorers up the highest mountains, down into the deepest seas, across parched deserts – and even into space!

An information book collins.co.uk/collinsbigcat

34397_Cover.indd 1

Paul Harrison

21/10/2021 17:52