Liotainian Polar Expedition

Also known as the Third Balchunas Expedition, this polar expedition was the first successful attempt to reach the geographic North Pole.

### Summary

The expedition totalled four men led by Laurynas Balchunas, and included Captain Voldemaras Mazeika, Kaskae (Chief) Tikaani Siku of the Yaktag tribe of the Kanqaa, and his brother Amak-Miska. The team used four dog-sledges of Kanqaa design, with a total of thirty-six dogs (a mix of Bolish huskies, Joseon huskies, and Kanqaamiut native sled dogs).

The expedition left the outpost of **Sarfanguit**, in northern Kanqaamiut, on June 14th, sledging on the sea-ice until they reached the Great Cairn at the end of White Bear Bay, where the 1901 expedition buried two of their fallen members. After paying tribute to lost comrades, the expedition continued overland, following the Low Ground Route that Balchunas surveyed in 1901 and 1903. This allowed the sledges to make excellent speed despite relatively rough ground, all the way up to the edge of the Polar Plateau.

This sharp rise in the ground, which raised the Polar Plateau approximately 200-300m above the surrounding terrain, had previously defeated Balchunas during the 1901 Expedition, as the escarpment was too steep for dog-sledges. During his 1903 survey, Balchunas had briefly charted a shallow canyon area dubbed *Yaktag Traverse*, where dog-sledges could bypass the steepest part of the escarpment, although it remained a fairly chancy passage. The expedition reached the top of the Polar Plateau on June 9th, measuring their position 20km south of the Pole.

The Plateau, while flat, was strewn with rocky outcroppings and deep snow-banks. Some time was required for the expedition to pick their way through the outcroppings, during which they discovered the unexpected sight of a small lake with liquid water. Due to the heat of the water, and the sulfurous smell, this was identified as a natural hot-spring. The expedition paused here to take navigational measurements, and determined their position now only 3km south of the Pole.

On June 25th, the Expedition reached the geodetic North Pole approximately midway through the afternoon. The Pole was identified with multiple navigational readings taken by both Balchunas and Mazeika, but Kaskai Tikaani was the first to arrive on the spot Balchunas identified. The Pole was located on the slope of a shallow hill, with nothing to indicate any particular importance or geographical prominence. In fact, Tikaani stated to Balchunas "this is a very boring thing to me" and saying "surely the hilltop must be the Pole?" Amak-Miska, echoing his brother, noted that he'd expected a deep hole that dropped into the earth.

Having identified the spot to within several meters of accuracy, the four Expedition members erected a cairn of stones along with a flagpole with the Liotainian flag. Tikaani and Amak-Miska each tied a prayer rag to the flagstaff, symbolizing their participation, while Balchunas buried a small silver elephant he'd worn around his neck since the beginning of his Arctic career in 1887. The Expedition then left the Pole, returning first to the hot spring and then down Yaktag Traverse.

Balchunas returned to Sarfanguit by June 30th, whereupon he used the outpost's radio to communicate with Atangmik, the main outpost in Kanqaamiut, which in turn radioed the Liotainian naval outpost in Rskir. The outpost then communicated the expedition's success by telegraph to the rest of the world.

### Geographic Features

* **North Pole**: geographic North Pole.
* **Polar Plateau**: officially named *Queen Kotryna Land* in 1908
* **Yaktag Traverse**: canyon which allows easy access onto the Polar Plateau.

### Participants

* Laurynas Balchunas
* Captain Voldemaras Mazeika
* Kaskae (Chief) Tikaani Siku of the Yaktag tribe of the Kanqaa
* Amak-Miska

### Controversy

The Dual Monarchy's Antarctic Expedition arrived at the North Pole two days after the departure of Balchunas Expedition, arriving on June 27th. Although Balchunas arrived first and radioed his success back to civilization earlier, the other expedition insisted that they had arrived first, building a monument and leaving a flag of their own. The Dual Monarchy's claims led to the Kanqaamiut Border Incident.