Stefansson, Vilhjalmur (1879–1962)

Stefansson, Vilhjalmur (1879–1962) – was a Canadian Arctic explorer, ethnologist, and writer. S.”s family originated from Iceland. In 1906–1907 S. studied Eskimo tribes in the Mackenzie River mouth, along the Beaufort Sea coastline, and in the north of Alaska. Together with an American zoologist R. Anderson, S. in 1908–1912 explored the shores of Northern Canada from Point Barrow to Victoria Land, having passed several 1,000 km. In 1913 S. led the Canadian Arctic Expedition, which explored the coasts of the Beaufort Sea and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. In 1914, accompanied by a Canadian hunter S. Storkerson, S. undertook 93-day long trip to the Banks Island and stayed for winter there. Sledging on the Beaufort Sea ice, S. moved further to the north, explored the Prince Patrick Island, and discovered the “Borden Land”; in 1916 S. went 80⁰30′N and discovered islands Meighen and Lougheed. In 1921 S. set up a sea-hunting company on the Wrangel Island, the activity of which was stopped...