"The upper ecosystem from the upper vegetation limit to the glacier is essentially the same over all climatic zones from the North Pole to the Antarctic, " says Mr Messerli.

UNESCO: 83e

The Twin Otter aircraft was flying from the South Pole to an Italian Antarctic base when its emergency beacon was activated at 10:00 GMT on Wednesday.

BBC: Antarctic search for missing plane carrying Canadians

Scott had the misfortune to launch his final assault on the Pole at just when the Antarctic temperatures took an unlikely plunge.

FORBES: South to the Pole: Leadership Wins the Race

The altitude, low temperatures and lack of sunlight (at least during the Antarctic winter) make the atmosphere at the pole ideal for star-gazing.

ECONOMIST: Cosmology

He was the first man to visit both the North and South Pole by land and the first to completely cross the Antarctic by foot.

CNN: Quest for exploration