ABSTRACT
Man's conception of Antarctica divides itself into three stages which parallel his own intellectual development. In the classical ages it was a myth. The two most distinctive achievements of the International Geophysical Year were the development of the space science program and the uncovering of Antarctica. During his first voyage, from 1768 to 1771, James Cook circumnavigated both islands of New Zealand and thereby took another big slice away from the unknown southern landmass. On his second voyage, from 1772 to 1775, Cook circumnavigated the continent of Antarctica without actually sighting it. He deserved to discover Antarctica for he came close to it several times and was the first explorer ever to cross the Antarctic Circle. In the twilight of the Heroic Age, after its interruption by World War I, interest in Antarctica was revived and a new, continuing phase in its exploration began, made possible by new advances in transportation and communication.
