MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Alexandra Shackleton honoured in Punta Arenas

The only granddaughter of the great British Antarctic expeditionary Sir Ernest Shackleton, the Honourable Alexandra Shackleton is currently visiting Punta Arenas together with Robert Headland, curator of the Cambridge University Polar Museum.

Her visit which has been described by the Punta Arenas press as "historic" will extend until next weekend and coincides with the celebration of Magallanes Region Day.

However Alexandra's agenda will concentrate on the close links between Punta Arenas and the rescue of the "Endurance" crew, an epic event in Antarctic exploration history.

Sir Ernest Shackleton on several occasions, 1901, 1904, 1907 and 1911 tried to reach the South Pole but he will be remembered for his extraordinary 1914 legacy as the man who measured no sacrifice, no limits to rescue his crew members from the "Endurance" trapped and crushed by the ice.

The achievements of the Endurance expeditions are well known: the 800 mile voyage of the tiny James Caird to South Georgia, then the trek over its unmapped interior to the whaling station at Stromness.

Thursday Alexandra, who is also life president of the James Caird Society which was founded to honour Shackleton and provide information about his expeditions, is scheduled to visit several Punta Arenas schools to deliver stationary and booklets related to Antarctica, will later unveil two commemorative plaques dedicated to Sir Ernest time in Punta Arenas.

Late in the evening Professor Headland will deliver a conference at the Chilean Antarctic Institute and donate material for the Chilean Antarctic Museum.

Friday Sir Ernest's granddaughter will sail along the Magellan Strait next to Jaime and Fernando Pardo Huerta, grand children of pilot Luis Pardo captain of the Chilean steamer "Yelco" loaned by the Chilean government which helped rescue the Endurance crew in 1916.

The legendary Ernest Shackleton's 1914-1916 Endurance expedition is considered one of the greatest survival stories of all time.