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Edmund Hillary (1919-2008) -

In 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay became the pioneers to conquer Mount Everest, the world's tallest peak. Hillary is mainly recognized for this feat as he was the first to step foot on the summit.

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Mount Everest -

350 porters were brought along with 5 tons of baggage for the expedition! Upon completion, Hillary's closest companion awaited them at the base with a comforting bowl of hot soup. It was well deserved!

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Roald Amundsen (1872-1928) -

Amundsen was an incredible explorer of the coldest regions on Earth. In 1897, he embarked on a journey to find the Northwest Passage, which connects the Pacific and Atlantic oceans with the Arctic Ocean. Explorers had been looking for it for years.

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Discoveries -

Roald Amundsen went further than just the Northwest Passage. He was the first man to reach the South Pole and complete a flight over the North Pole. Hence, he was the first human to conquer the most desolate areas in the world.

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Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) -

Columbus needs no introduction. He is supposedly the first man ever to journey from Europe to South America.

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Where did he depart? -

In 1492, Columbus set out to find a faster route to India. By chance, he stumbled upon Latin America. Throughout his lifetime, he embarked on three journeys across the Atlantic Ocean to explore this "new" territory. It's said Columbus made the first connection that led Europe to colonize Latin America.

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Charles Darwin (1809-1882) -

Darwin, a famous scientist, was an explorer in his own right. He was approached during his biology studies at Cambridge, to embark on a voyage of exploration aboard the HMS Beagle, showcasing his skills as an explorer.

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The Galapagos -

Charles Darwin embarked on a five-year journey across South America, specifically focusing on the Galapagos Islands. During this time, he meticulously documented various species, their behaviors, and their surrounding environments. The culmination of his extensive research led to the publication of his controversial book, 'On the Origin of Species,' in 1859.

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David Livingstone (1813-1873) -

During the 19th century, Africa was a relatively enigmatic location for those who were not from the continent. David Livingstone embarked on a journey to discover the continent and familiarize himself with its diverse cultures. He commenced his expedition in 1865.

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Missing? -

Livingstone, while exploring Africa, also wanted to end the pernicious slave trade because he could see the damage it caused. Despite initially planning to return after two years, he remained in Africa until his passing, which led the British to assume he was lost.

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Meriwether Lewis (1774-1809) and William Clark (1770-1838) -

Lewis and Clark embarked on an expedition to survey and map the Western part of the United States. At first glance, it seemed like an uncomplicated task, but little did they know the magnitude of the mission they had undertaken.

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The West -

After an incredible journey spanning 8,000 miles (almost 13,000 kilometers), the Corps of Discovery finally arrived in what we now know as Oregon. However, their journey home proved challenging as they faced hostile Native American tribes. Despite these hardships, President Thomas Jefferson and the public celebrated their triumphant return, heralding them as heroes.

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Neil Armstrong (1930-2012) -

We hardly need to tell you what happened here! On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong successfully accomplished the moon landing mission.

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"One small step for man" -

Armstrong's expedition transformed humanity's aspirations of space into reality. It marked the initial contact with another celestial terrain, yet this was merely the beginning, with more to come.

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Amelia Earhart (1897-1937) -

In 1929, a historic event occurred as the first female aviator successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean. Surprisingly, she became only the 16th woman globally to possess a pilot's license.

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Further details -

Earhart holds the distinction of being the first individual to successfully navigate over the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Despite her pioneering achievements, the aviator's fate remains enigmatic, vanishing without a trace in 1937, leaving behind an enduring mystery.

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Zheng He (1371-1433) -

Zheng He, during the Ming Dynasty, embarked on a series of seven expeditions to showcase the might of the empire as instructed by the Emperor. His mission was to reveal the greatness of the empire to other nations.

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Did Columbus accomplish it? -

Zheng He documented their voyages, enabling the creation of a map. Remarkably, this map dates back to a time preceding Christopher Columbus' maritime endeavors. It presents the intriguing possibility that the Chinese may have explored the Americas prior to the Europeans, contrary to what history textbooks suggest.

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Amerigo Vespucci (1454-1512) -

Is that first name familiar to you? America was named after Vespucci because of his successful exploration. In 1497, he sailed from Spain to South America and firmly believed he had found a new continent.

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The rios -

While he had misconceptions about the newfound land since it had already been discovered by others, his expeditions brought recognition to Rio de Janeiro and Río de la Plata.

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John Cabot (c. 1450-c. 1500) -

In 1497, a strong man commanded a journey across the Northern Atlantic Ocean and unexpectedly discovered Canada. Initially mistaking it for Asia, he proceeded to stake a British flag as a symbol of ownership.

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Vanishing -

Born in Italy, Cabot devoted his life to exploration and was set to return to Canada. In 1498, he set off again with a fleet. However, Cabot and his ships mysteriously disappeared, leaving behind unanswered questions about their fate.

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Hernán Cortés (1485-1547) -

The Conquistador Cortés, renowned by many, departed Spain at 19 years old to embark on a journey of exploration. He bravely sought to conquer the Aztec Empire in Mexico.

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Córtes -

Córtes and his soldiers caused the deaths of over 100,000 indigenous individuals, with additional fatalities resulting from European-borne illnesses.

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Francis Drake (c. 1540–1596) -

Francis Drake, a close ally of Queen Elizabeth (1533-1603), gained renown for circumnavigating the globe and asserting British dominance over California.

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Virginia -

Although the Queen was fond of him, she prevented him from further exploring the Americas. However, Drake managed to find alternative means of doing so. He financed an expedition that successfully laid claim to Virginia, which was named after Queen Elizabeth's epithet, the "Virgin Queen."

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James Cook (1728-1779) -

At 29 years old, Cook was already skilled in captaining a ship. In 1770, he embarked on a journey to investigate the Pacific and Australia.

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New Zealand and Australia -

While sailing on the HMS Endeavour (pictured: replica from 2012), he collected data on New Zealand, the Great Barrier Reef, and Australia. Crucially, he disproved the existence of Terra Australis, the speculated continent.

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Ferdinand Magellan (1480-1521) -

In 1519, Magellan led an exploration to discover the East Indies. However, more notable than the expedition is that he circumnavigated the Earth.

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Across the globe -

The voyage was treacherous. Of the five ships that set off from Seville, Spain, only one returned. Magellan, along with 251 men on board, died before the expedition ended.

Sources: (Biography) (Famous Explorers)

See also: The fascinating history of the Portuguese era of exploration

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