Work

The lost message of Nils Strindberg: Re-examining an 1897 Andrée balloon expedition mystery

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: During the ill-fated 1897 Andrée balloon expedition, Nils Strindberg allegedly dropped a small tin containing a last message for his fiancée onto the island Fuglesongen in northwestern Svalbard, as the expedition crew passed over it in their hydrogen balloon, Örnen. Despite at least one lengthy search on Fuglesongen, the tin has never been found. This paper investigates the hypothesis that the tin was accidentally dropped onto Klovningen, a neighbouring island similar in size and shape, situated approximately 2.4 km east of Fuglesongen. A re-analysis of Strindberg’s original handwritten notes from the balloon flight, along with other primary sources and meteorological analyses, suggests that a targeted search for the tin on Klovningen could be a promising next step in solving this enduring mystery.

Source: Polar Record

DOI: 10.1017/s0032247424000196

Authors: Björn Lantz, Bea Uusma, Michael Tjernström

Institutions: Chalmers University of Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm University

Language: English

Topic: Travel Writing and Literature

Subfield: History

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,450

OpenAlex ID: W4404226308