Antarctica is a huge continent, over 5 million square miles in size. Yet, it was not until the 1820s that humans first set foot upon it, and not until the first half of the 20th century before it was finally confirmed that it really was one large continent under the ice. Why did it take so long to learn this about Antarctica? In this episode I discuss the earliest explorers who went south in search of  a 'lost continent' and the eventual discovery and early scientific expeditions to visit it. Famous navigators including Ferdinand Magellan and Captain James Cook are involved in this history.