/media/uploads/2025/06/25/eng-6.mp3
What did the explorers of Belgica bring back? Not gold, not hidden treasures, but something far more valuable: knowledge.
The photographs taken during the voyage, using stereoscopic cameras — special ones designed to capture 3D images on glass plates — are not only the first photographs taken beyond the Antarctic Circle, on the ice floe of the Bellingshausen Sea or the Antarctic Peninsula but are also true works of art. The official photographer of the expedition, Dr. Frederick Cook, was spontaneous and witty, combining a rare descriptive talent with fine observational skills, which created harmonious compositions. His photographs were of fantastic quality for that period. The photographic equipment on the Belgica, which Emil Racoviță personally oversaw the purchase of, was of German and French origin, featuring lenses produced by the renowned Zeiss company. In addition to their artistic value, these photographs made a significant contribution to the knowledge of territories still considered "white spots" on the world map.
The most valuable discoveries, however, are the holotypes — those unique specimens based on which new species were described for science. As a result of the expedition, approximately 290 new species of plants and animals (mainly invertebrates) were identified. Although some were later synonymised, their scientific value remains undeniable. They have made significant contributions to the understanding of the South Polar ecosystem and the surrounding waters.
The knowledge acquired about Antarctica through the study of the biological and geological materials collected constitutes the true treasure of the expedition. The Royal Museum of Natural History in Brussels still preserves valuable collections today, including imperial, Gentoo, and Adélie penguins, seal bones and embryos, as well as deep-sea fish preserved in alcohol. On a simple glass slide lies almost invisibly a wingless fly, the only one adapted to the fierce winds of the South Pole: the Belgica antarctica, described as a new species following the expedition.
Emil Racoviță created the first collection of Antarctic seal embryos and published landmark works on whales. He was a pioneer in ecology and ethology. Henryk Arctowski proposed an international network of polar stations and pioneered climate studies; the Polish research station now bears his name. Georges Lecointe created essential maps and made astronomical observations, contributing significantly to the mapping of Antarctica. Roald Amundsen received his first lesson in polar exploration on this expedition, later becoming the first man to reach the South Pole. Frederick Cook, the expedition's doctor and photographer, captured key moments and played a crucial role in the crew's survival.