On December 13, 2011, H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon of Norway was in Tromsø (known as the gateway to the Arctic Ocean) to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Norwegian explorer, Roald Amundsen, arrival to the South Pole. Per the official website for the royal house of Norway, Kongehuset:
Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen were prominent public figures who contributed to building Norway’s national self-esteem and brought the country international recognition in the period after the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden. In his remarks at the Stortorget market square, Crown Prince Haakon emphasised the importance of the role they played:
‘Amundsen and Nansen were the true heroes of a free Norway in the years after it gained its independence in 1905. Amundsen’s achievements helped to form our national identity and to carve out Norway’s position as a polar nation. We have good reason to celebrate today.’
The centennial celebration in Tromsø featured a tightly packed program, with Crown Prince Haakon attending a number of events. First the Crown Prince visited Gyllenborg school, where he viewed a display of the schoolchildren’s works on polar history. Many schools have conducted polar history projects this year, a selection of which will be exhibited at Tromsø City Hall.
Polar history
A photography exhibition depicting Tromsø as the Arctic capital and the point of departure for expeditions and other polar activities had been set up in Erling Bangsunds Square. There the Crown Prince viewed photographs illustrating segments of Arctic Ocean history that have been little known until now.
The Crown Prince also attended author Tor Bomann-Larsen’s informal lecture on Roald Amundsen and his achievements.
Helmer Hanssen was one of the four men who accompanied Amundsen to the South Pole point. Hanssen, who lived most of his adult life in Tromsø, was honoured with a monument that was unveiled outside Polaria, an Arctic-themed attraction centre housed at the Fram Centre. The work of sculptor Per Ung, the monument depicts Hanssen and his dogsled in bronze.
The polar parade departed from Polaria at 6:15 pm and arrived at Stortorget market square for the celebration’s main event.
Via satellite from the South Pole
A crowd was gathered at Stortorget, where the Crown Prince gave his speech before contact was made with the South Pole.
With the help of satellite transmission, the audience was able to see and hear Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Director of the Norwegian Polar Institute Jan-Gunnar Winther send their greetings and congratulations to Norway directly from the South Pole.
Winther is a participant of the Norwegian Polar Institute’s Centenary Expedition “South Pole 1911-2011”, which has followed Amundsen’s route to the South Pole point. The South Pole is in the same time zone as New Zealand so the centennial anniversary was commemorated earlier than in Norway, with the unveiling of a bust of Roald Amundsen carved in ice, among other things.
To watch a video please click here.
To learn more about Roald Amundsen click here.
Source and photo courtesy of: Kongehuset
I keep seeing HRH Prince Haakon but where is HRH Princess Mette-Marit? Is she ill
She recently attended the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, banquet, and concert with the rest of the royal family.
THANK YOU!!
This is so cool! They mentioned him on NPR at some point today.