Final answer:
The importance of Walton not reaching the North Pole highlights the dangers and scientific undertakings of polar exploration. Discoveries such as Aristotle's account of stars observed at different latitudes confirms Earth's spherical shape and proves the significant risks faced by historic explorers like Nansen, who showed the need for caution and survival over reaching a geographic objective.
Step-by-step explanation:
The importance of Walton not reaching the North Pole relates significantly to the challenges and risks associated with polar exploration during the era of Fridtjof Nansen.
Nansen's expedition towards the North Pole involved meticulous preparation and acceptance of the perilous nature of the Arctic. The journey was not just about reaching a geographical point but also about scientific discovery and understanding the natural world.
Aristotle's observations on travelers seeing different stars at different latitudes lend credence to the concept of a spherical Earth. As explorers ventured further from their starting point, such as going north toward the pole, they observed changes in the night sky that could only be explained by a curved surface of the Earth, providing one of the proofs that Earth is round.
Nansen's attempt to reach the North Pole also emphasizes the extremity of such explorations. After realizing that his ship 'Fram' would not reach the pole, Nansen continued by sled but had to turn back, enduring a harsh winter on a desolate island.
This underlines the importance of caution in such endeavors and the sometimes necessary decision to avoid reaching one's ultimate goal for the sake of safety and survival.