Attachment contains small scale chart overlays of the expedition. Mapping technology and difference in type of projection does not allow overlays to line up exactly. If your computer is limited in power, you may wish to turn on only one or two charts at a time. Larger versions of the charts from the expedition can be found
here. 
The H.M.S. Challenger was a British corvette (small warship) converted to a ship fitted out for a scientific expedition to explore the world's oceans. I8 cannons were removed to make room for the scientific gear needed to accomplish the goals of the expedition. These goals included studying the physical properties of the oceans like salinity, temperature, currents, depth, and the nature of the seas bottom. A biological survey of the ocean was another important goal.
The Challenger left Portsmouth, England on December 21, 1872 and during the course of the next four years accomplished its goals as it circumnavigated the world, touching on all seven continents. It returned with a large collection of samples, discovered many new species, and discovered the deepest part of the ocean, sounding the depth at 26,850 feet. This deepest trough is now named the Challenger Deep.
By the time the H.M.S. Challenger returned to port on May 24, 1876, the leader of the expedition C. Wyville Thompson had died of exhaustion. Only 144 of the original crew of 216 returned with the ship. Ranks were thinned by injuries, disease, desertion, and seven deaths. But the valuable information returned by the expedition was organized, cataloged, and analyzed by a team led by John Murray. Twenty years after the expedition he termed the Challenger Expedition the greatest advance in the knowledge of our planet since the celebrated discoveries of the 15th and 16th centuries. And it was the beginning of our present day understanding of the 3/4 of the world covered by oceans.
Other resources which were used in gathering information for this post.
The University of Kansas Natural History Museum The Challenger Society for Marine Science oceanexplorer.noaa.govmp052506
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