Newly formed floe-bergs, showing the old line of floatation

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Newly formed floe-bergs, showing the old line of floatation

The official report stated that ‘the floe-bergs, at their maximum sizes, were pressed high up one over the other against the steep shore; the chaos outside was something indescribable, and the travelling the worst that can possibly be imagined, seven days being occupied in moving forward only 20 miles’.

When the 'Alert' finally wintered in the ice at Floe-berg Beach, it became the base for laying depots ready for the attempt to reach the North Pole, and further exploration journeys along the coast. The lines on the image are from original emulsion cracks on the negative.

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Object Details

ID:	ALB1093.84
Type:	Photographic print
Display location:	Not on display
Creator:	White, George
Date made:	Between March and June 1876
Credit:	Lent by Her Majesty The Queen
Measurements:	Overall: 330 x 392 x 130 mm
Parts:	Nares Arctic Expedition, 1875-1876. (Photograph Album) A Group of Greenland Inuit on board HMS Discovery (1873) (Photographic print) (ALB1093.1) Alert' (1856), 'Discovery' (1873) and 'Valorous' (1851) anchored in Disco Harbour, Godhaven (Photographic print) (ALB1093.2) Valorous' (1851) and 'Discovery' (1873) alongside in Disco Harbour (Photographic print) (ALB1093.3) Two unidentified Inuit of Disco outside a hut close to the settlement at Godhaven. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.4) Seven unidentified Inuit women of Disco outside a hut close to the settlement at Godhaven. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.5) A view of the coast of Greenland near Rittenbenk (Photographic print) (ALB1093.6) A view of the settlement of Proven situated on the western side of the easternmost island that made up the harbour. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.7) Hans Hendrik 'the Esquimaux' with his daughter/wife[?] and son on the upper deck of 'Discovery' (1873). (Photographic print) (ALB1093.8) A view from the Island of Kangitok looking westward (Photographic print) (ALB1093.9) A view from the Island of Kangitok looking eastward. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.10) A group of Inuit with some crew members posing off the port bow of 'Discovery'. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.11) A starboard near bow view of 'Discovery' (1873) attached to the ice off Cape York. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.12) A view from the shore looking to the southwest at Port Payer, Ellesmere Island, with a portion of the ice-foot on the right. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.13) Port broadside view of 'Discovery' (1873) at Port Payer, Ellesmere Island, with Brevoort Island in the background. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.14) A view towards Cape Sabine from the shore at Port Payer, Ellesmere Island. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.15) Looking northeast with 'Alert' (1856) and 'Discovery' (1873) at anchor in Alexandra Bay [Princess Alexandra Harbour]. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.16) A view in Alexandra Bay [Princess Alexandra Harbour] looking at the ice-foot and grounded ice in the foreground. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.17) A view in Alexandra Bay [Princess Alexandra Harbour] looking at the ice left grounded by the falling tide. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.18) A starboard broadside view of 'Alert' (1856) stopped in the ice in Buchanan Bay, Hayes Sound (Photographic print) (ALB1093.19) A starboard broadside view of 'Alert' (1856) in the middle distance beset in the ice off Victoria Head (Photographic print) (ALB1093.20) A port broadside view of 'Alert' (1856) at Franklin Pierce Bay with Cape Harrison in the background. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.21) Looking north to the head of Franklin Pierce Bay from 'Discovery' (1873). (Photographic print) (ALB1093.22) A view of Rawson, Hart and Fulford of 'Discovery' (1873) on the ice at the entrance to Franklin Pierce Bay looking east towards Cape Prescott. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.23) A view looking west from entrance of Franklin Pierce Bay towards Cape Harrison. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.24) A view looking into Franklin Pierce Bay from the western end of Cape Prescott (Photographic print) (ALB1093.25) A starboard quarter view of 'Alert' (1856) alongside ice under Cape Prescott detained by the ice. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.26) Starboard broadside views of 'Discovery' (1873) and 'Alert' (1856) secured to a floe off Cape Prescott. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.27) Fast to the floe under Cape Prescott, Franklin Pierce Bay (Photographic print) (ALB1093.28) Starboard bow view of 'Alert' (1856), with Berrie, Ice Quartermaster, standing in the foreground behind a walrus which he killed. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.29) A view of the south coast of Washington Irvine Island (also known at the time as Sphinx Island) taken from near Cape Hawks. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.30) A view of the south coast of Washington Irvine Island (also known at the time as Sphinx Island) taken from near Cape Hawks. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.31) Starboard stern view of 'Discovery' (1873) cutting an ice dock four miles off Cape Hilgard in Dobbin Bay. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.32) A view from one of the ice docks near Cape Hilgard in Dobbin Bay looking towards the northwest coast, with part of Cape Schott on the left (Photographic print) (ALB1093.33) A view from the main top of 'Discovery' (1873) in her ice dock, looking northward up Dobbin Bay. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.34) A view from 'Discovery' (1873) of the crew of 'Alert' (1856) cutting an ice dock in Dobbin Bay near Cape Hilgard. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.35) A view looking northeast towards Cape Hilgard, with 'Alert' (1856) in an ice dock in Dobbin Bay. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.36A) A view from near one of the ships towards Cape Louis Napoleon on the northeast coast of Dobbin Bay. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.36b) A view from 'Alert' (1856) looking northwest up Dobbin Bay with 'young' ice and icebergs in the bay. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.37) A view from near one of the ships towards Cape Louis Napoleon on the northeast coast of Dobbin Bay. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.38) A port stern quarter view of 'Alert' (1856) alongside the ice floe, with the crew cutting an ice dock in Dobbin Bay. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.39) Four different compositions of 'Alert' (1856) in the ice dock in Dobbin Bay. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.40) Four different compositions of 'Discovery' (1873) in the ice dock in Dobbin Bay. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.41) Possibly a view from Cape Louis Napoleon looking northeast towards Hayes Point and Cape Frazer. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.42) Possibly a view from 'Discovery' (1873) along the coast to Hayes Point, with 'Alert' (1856) beset in the ice in the distant. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.43) A view of the edge of a floe with worn hummocks off either Point Joy near Cape Louis Napoleon, or Cape Hayes, or north of Cape Fraser. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.44) A view from either 'Alert' (1856) or 'Discovery' (1873) looking southwest from Cape Hayes. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.45) A view along the east coast of Ellesmere Island off Cape Collinson, looking south. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.46) Possibly Lieutenant Rawson of 'Discovery' (1873) with a dogwhip standing on the ice. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.47) View from 'Discovery' (1873) of 'Alert' (1856) ashore in Radmore Harbour, Rawlings Bay. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.48) View from the ice of 'Alert' (1856) ashore in Radmore Harbour, Rawlings Bay, at low tide. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.49) 'Discovery' (1873) with awnings rigged in Discovery Harbour, Lady Franklin Sound (Bay) (Photographic print) (ALB1093.50) 'Discovery' (1873) with awnings rigged and tide gauge fixed at the stern, Discovery Harbour, Lady Franklin Sound (Bay). (Photographic print) (ALB1093.51) Discovery' (1873) with awnings rigged in Discovery Harbour, Lady Franklin Sound (Bay). (Photographic print) (ALB1093.52) 'Discovery' (1873) with awnings rigged and the tide gauge fixed at the stern, in Discovery Harbour, Lady Franklin Sound (Bay). (Photographic print) (ALB1093.53) 'Discovery' (1873) with awnings rigged, Discovery Harbour, Lady Franklin Sound (Bay). (Photographic print) (ALB1093.54) View from near 'Discovery' (1873) looking eastward with possibly Hans 'the Esquimeaux' in foreground. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.55) 'Discovery' (1873) with awnings rigged and ice piled around the ship, Discovery Harbour, Lady Franklin Sound (Bay). (Photographic print) (ALB1093.56) Discovery' (1873) with awnings rigged and ice piled around the ship, Discovery Harbour, Lady Franklin Sound (Bay). (Photographic print) (ALB1093.57) View from Mount Cartinel looking southwest towards Bellot Island and and its summit Mount Campbell, Discovery Bay, Lady Franklin Sound (Bay). (Photographic print) (ALB1093.58) View from further up the slopes of Mount Cartinel looking south into Discovery Bay, Lady Franklin Sound (Bay). (Photographic print) (ALB1093.59) View of the stern of 'Discovery' (1873), showing the tide gauge. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.60) View from just behind the store tent on the slopes of Mount Cartmel looking west along Discovery Bay towards the northwest coast and Mount Ovibos (Photographic print) (ALB1093.61) Discovery' (1873) with awnings rigged, and the smithy and theatre, Discovery Harbour, Lady Franklin Sound (Bay). (Photographic print) (ALB1093.62) The North Greenland Party prior to departing for 'Alert' (1856). (Photographic print) (ALB1093.63) The Lady Franklin Sound Sledge Party prior to departure from Discovery. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.64) The shipkeepers of 'Discovery' (1873) sitting on a dog sledge with the remaining dogs. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.65) A coal seam, about 25 feet thick, in a ravine in Water-Course Bay found by Mr C. Hart (Naturalist) to the northeast of Discovery Harbour. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.66) 'Discovery' (1873) surrounded by loose ice in Discovery Harbour, Lady Franklin Sound (Bay). (Photographic print) (ALB1093.67) A view looking south-southwest towards Cape Baird across the entrance to Lady Franklin Sound (Bay). (Photographic print) (ALB1093.68) A view looking south-southwest towards Cape Baird across the entrance to Lady Franklin Sound (Bay). (Photographic print) (ALB1093.69) A view looking south-southwest towards Cape Baird across the entrance to Lady Franklin Sound (Bay). (Photographic print) (ALB1093.70) Discovery' (1873) ashore in Discovery Harbour with grounded ice, looking northwest from Bellot Island. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.71) 'Alert' (1856) beset in ice when off Cape Beechey having been pushed on shore and trapped by ice floes. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.72) 'Alert' (1856) beset in ice when off Cape Beechey having been pushed on shore and trapped by ice floes. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.73) A view of the ice taken from 'Alert' (1856), when beset in the ice off Cape Beechey. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.74) A view taken at the southern cape of Wrangle Bay of three men having halted for luncheon on the way from 'Discovery' (1873) to 'Alert' (1856) (Photographic print) (ALB1093.75) Captain Stephenson with two sailors and the dog sledge on route to 'Alert' (1856) from Discovery Bay (Photographic print) (ALB1093.76) A view of the sea ice in Robeson Channel from the coast off Lincoln Bay. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.77) 'Alert' (1856) in the ice, possibly between Lincoln Bay and Wrangel Bay on the way south in 1876, or north in 1875. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.78) A view of four men with the tent erected. In the foreground is the dog sledge with the dogs laying on the ice. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.79) A view of young ice forming in the foreground around broken fragments of floe, cementing them together. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.80) A view of young ice forming in the foreground around broken fragments of floe, cementing them together. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.81) A view of the grounded sea ice ('floebergs') forced up onto the shore by the pressure of the ice moving from the north. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.82) A view of a crew member of 'Alert' in front of the grounded sea ice on the north coast of Ellesmere Island. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.83) Newly formed floe-bergs, showing the old line of floatation (Photographic print) (ALB1093.84) A large split floe-berg aground off the north coast of Ellesmere Island (Photographic print) (ALB1093.85) A view of the crew of a dog sledge cutting a road in the ice below the cliffs of Cape Rawson (Photographic print) (ALB1093.86) A view of the crew of a dog sledge helping to haul the eight-man sledge up their prepared roadway below Cape Rawson (Photographic print) (ALB1093.87) A view of a section through the sea ice showing the overlying layers of fresh water ice and snow. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.88) A view of the upper deck of 'Alert' (1856) looking aft from behind the main mast (Photographic print) (ALB1093.89) 'Alert' (1856) in Winter Quarters at 'Floe-berg Beach', on the north coast of Ellesmere Island. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.90) 'Alert' (1856) in Winter Quarters at 'Floeberg Beach' on the north coast of Ellesmere Island. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.91) 'Alert' (1856) in Winter Quarters at 'Floeberg Beach, on the north coast of Ellesmere Island (Photographic print) (ALB1093.92) 'Alert' (1856) in Winter Quarters at Floeberg Beach' on the north coast of Ellesmere Island. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.93) 'Alert' (1856) in Winter Quarters at Floeberg Beach' on the north coast of Ellesmere Island, looking towards Cape Rawson in the distance. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.94) 'Alert' (1856) in Winter Quarters at 'Floeberg Beach' on the north coast of Ellesmere Island. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.95) Mr George White, Assistant Engineer of 'Alert' and the ship's photographer with 'Nelly', Commander Markham's black Retriever. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.96) A view looking northward along the North Ravine (Winchester Valley) towards the Polar Sea (Photographic print) (ALB1093.97) A view looking northward along the North Ravine (Winchester Valley) towards the Polar Sea (Photographic print) (ALB1093.98) A view of tThe melting ice and snow from the sides of the North Ravine (Winchester Valley) during the thaw (Photographic print) (ALB1093.99) A view of the head of a Musk Oxen (Photographic print) (ALB1093.100) A view of the grave and headstone for Neils Christian Petersen, Danish Interpreter of HMS 'Alert' (1856). (Photographic print) (ALB1093.101) The headstone for Neils Christian Petersen, Danish Interpreter of HMS 'Alert'. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.102) 'Alert' (1856) with the crew working to free the ship from the barrier of 'floe-bergs'. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.103) A view along Westward Ho! Valley on the north coast of Ellesmere Island[?], with a dog-sledge and dogs in the foreground. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.104) A view along Westward Ho! Valley from the top of a rocky promontory, looking westward towards the United States Range. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.105) A view along Westward Ho! Valley. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.106) The brass plate engraved for the grave of Captain Hall, the leader of the U.S. 'Polaris Expedition' who died in 1871. (Photographic print) (ALB1093.107)