Xavier Mertz and his team of huskies in Adelie Land in 1912. - Tasmania, Australia 
Hero huskies on the map
Every step into the icy unknown, their dogs were with them.
The heroic age of polar exploration owes so much to the huskies — the tireless workers that pulled the sleds and dreams of their masters.
The dogs hauled the food, the medical supplies and the science equipment. They were companions and, at times of desperation, they became a sustenance of last resort.
The work of huskies in helping early explorers traverse and map the icy continent is often overshadowed by the staggering ordeals of the expeditioners themselves.
But now the huskies are getting the recognition they deserve, for their part in the heroics.
The dogs that led Sir Douglas Mawson through Antarctica more than 100 years ago have been immortalised after a decision announced last week.
The names of Mawson’s dogs have been bestowed on 26 prominent landmarks across Antarctica, ensuring the canine crew will never be forgotten.
The Australian Antarctic Division Place Names Committee has, for the first time, recognised the deeds of animals in choosing place names for islands, rocks and reefs.
Huskies were first used in Antarctica by the British in 1898. The dogs, from Greenland, were chosen because of their familiarity with snow and double layer of fur.
The dogs proved themselves lifesavers for the British explorers, who survived a four-day blizzard by having the dogs lie on top of them to keep warm.
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