List of explorers


The following is a list of explorers. Their common names, countries of origin, centuries when they were active and main areas of exploration are listed below.
was a famous Norse explorer who is credited for being the first European to set foot on American soil.
was an Italian explorer who traveled to the far east and back to his hometown Venice in the matter of 24 years. He is noted for making detailed chronicles of his travels.
was a Chinese explorer who sailed along the Southeast Asian, South Asian, Western Asian, and East African coasts along with his fleet of incredibly large ships and several hundred men.
is the first European to explore the Congo River and the west coast of Africa, south of the equator.
is known as the first European to sail around the southernmost tip of Africa, finding the eastern sea route to the Indian Ocean.
. Famous Italian explorer and possibly the best-known explorer that ever lived. Known for "discovering" America.
is noted as the discoverer of South America, as commander of the fleet with Juan de la Cosa and Amerigo Vespucci.
was an Italian navigator who was the first European that sailed along to North American coast since the Norse 500 years prior.
. Famous Portuguese explorer known for being the first European to sail to India.
made several trips to the New World. He is known for convincing the Europeans that the New World is not Asia, but an entirely new unknown continent. This new continent was soon named after him, America.
discovered the land in what is now Brazil and claimed it for Portugal.
raided, captured, and conquered many coastal cities in Asia for the Portuguese Empire. He is also one of the first Europeans to sail to the East Indies and Spice Islands, along with Francisco Serrão and António de Abreu.
was the first Governor of Puerto Rico and discovered Florida in 1513. He is the first known European to set foot on today's continental United States.
is known for having crossed the Isthmus of Panama to the Pacific Ocean, becoming the first European to reach and see the Pacific from the America's.
. Famous Conquistador who led the Spanish expedition to explore and conquer the Aztec Empire.
led the first circumnavigation of the globe.
took command after Ferdinand's death and completed the voyage, becoming the first person to circumnavigate the earth.
was the first European to travel inland in North America and claimed the lands he explored for France.
Francis Drake plundered many Spanish towns and ships in the Caribbean and elsewhere. However, he is most notable for completing the second circumnavigation of the world.
is known as "The Father of New France". He founded the first permanent European settlements in Canada, and explored many lakes and rivers in the interior lands from early age to his death.
explored what is now New York and northeastern Canada. Today he has both a river and bay named after him .
is the first known European to sight the islands of Tasmania, New Zealand, and Fiji.
. Famous British explorer who led three voyages to the Pacific. He is known for exploring and charting many islands in the ocean such as Polynesia, New Zealand, The Hawaiian Islands, and the eastern coast of Australia.
was an explorer of the polar regions. He was the first person to reach the South Pole, and eventually also reached the North Pole by air.
NameModern nationalityCenturiesMain areas explored-
Antonio de AbreuPortuguese16thIndonesia-
William AdamsEnglish17thJapan-
Diogo AfonsoPortuguese15thNorthwest African coast-
Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw BtScottish20thGreenland, Elephant Island, Northern Patagonian Icefield, Himalayas-
Charles AlbanelFrench17thCanada-
Afonso de AlbuquerquePortuguese16thAsia-
Buzz AldrinAmerican20thThe Moon-
Pêro de AlenquerPortuguese15th/16thIndian Ocean-
Alexander the GreatGreek 4th BCIndus River, Hindu Kush-
Jean Alfonse Portuguese-French15th/16thIndian Ocean, Southeast Asia, possibly Australia; Brazil, North America-
Benedict AllenEnglish20th/21stvarious-
Diego de AlmagroSpanish16thPeru, Chile-
László AlmásyHungarian19th/20thAfrica-
Francisco de AlmeidaPortuguese16thIndia-
Lourenço de AlmeidaPortuguese16thSri Lanka, India-
Pedro de AlvaradoSpanish16thMexico, Guatemala, Honduras-
Francisco ÁlvaresPortuguese16thEthiopia-
Gonçalo ÁlvaresPortuguese15thGough Island, Namibia-
Jorge ÁlvaresPortuguese16thChina-
Roald AmundsenNorwegian20thSouth Pole, Antarctica, Northwest Passage-
José Alberto de Oliveira AnchietaPortuguese19thGough Island-
Charles John AnderssonSwedish19thSouthern Africa-
António de AndradePortuguese16th/17thIndia, Tibet-
Fernão Pires de AndradePortuguese16thMing China-
Salomon August AndréeSwedish19thArctic-
Roy Chapman AndrewsAmerican20thChina, Mongolia-
Juan Bautista de AnzaSpanish18thCalifornia-
Dominick ArduinFrench20th/21stNorth Pole-
Henryk ArctowskiPolish20thAntarctic, South America-
Neil ArmstrongAmerican20thThe Moon-
Ingólfur ArnarsonNorse9thIceland-
Vladimir ArsenyevRussian20thFar East-
Michael AsherEnglish20thAfrica-
Pêro de AtaídePortuguese16th/17thIndian Ocean
Vasco de AtaídePortuguese16th/17thIndia, Tibet-
Vladimir AtlasovSiberian Cossack17thKamchatka Peninsula-
François Xavier AubryFrench Canadian19thAmerican Southwest-
Väinö AuerFinnish20thTierra del Fuego and Patagonia-
Pedro Menéndez de AvilésSpanish16thFlorida-
Juan de AyalaSpanish18thCalifornia-
Lucas Vázquez de AyllónSpanish16thSouth Carolina-
Diogo de AzambujaPortuguese15thWest African coast-
George BackEnglish19thCanadian Arctic-
William BaffinEnglish17thNorthwest Passage-
Samuel BakerEnglish19thAfrica-
Vasco Núñez de BalboaSpanish16thPanama, 'discovered' the Pacific Ocean-
Robert BallardAmerican20thdeep sea wrecks, Titanic-
Ann BancroftAmerican20th/21stArctic, Antarctic-
Joseph BanksEnglish18thNewfoundland and Labrador, South Pacific-
Hong BaoChinese15thSouth Asia, Southeast Asia, Middle East, East African coast-
Giosafat BarbaroItalian15thBlack Sea, Near East-
Duarte BarbosaPortuguese15th/16thIndian Ocean, 1st circumnavigation-
Pêro de BarcelosPortuguese15th/16thNorth America-
Afonso Gonçalves BaldaiaPortuguese15thWestern Sahara-
Jeanne BaréFrench18th/19thPacific Ocean-
Willem BarentszDutch16thNortheast Passage, Novaya Zemlya, Svalbard-
Heinrich BarthGerman19thCentral and northern Africa-
Robert BartlettNewfoundlander20thArctic-
George BassEnglish18thAustralia, Tasmania-
Henry Walter BatesEnglish19thAmazon basin-
Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn BattutaMarinid14thAfrica, Central Asia, China, Europe, Indian subcontinent, Middle East, Russia, Southeast Asia-
Nicolas BaudinFrench18thAustralia-
James BeckwourthAmerican19thSierra Nevada -
William BeebeAmerican20thdeep sea-
Pyotr BeketovRussian17thSiberia-
Gertrude BellEnglish19th/20thGreater Syria Mesopotamia Asia Minor Arabia-
Fabian Gottlieb von BellingshausenBaltic German19thAntarctica-
Joseph René BellotFrench19thArctic-
Móric BenyovszkyHungarian18thnorthern Pacific Ocean-
Vitus BeringDanish18thNorthern Pacific Ocean, Bering Strait, Alaska -
Hiram Bingham IIIAmerican20thMachu Picchu, Peru-
Laura BinghamEnglish20th/21stSouth America-
Isabella BirdEnglish19th/20thNorth America Hawaii Japan Korea China Vietnam Singapore Malaysia India Persia Kurdistan Turkey Morocco-
John Blashford-SnellEnglish20th/21stvarious-
Adriaen BlockDutch17thEast Coast of the United States-
Nellie BlyAmerican19th/20thtrip around the world in 72 days-
Juan Francisco de la Bodega y QuadraSpanish18thPacific Northwest-
Benjamin BonnevilleAmerican19thOregon Country, Great Basin-
Daniel BooneAmerican18thKentucky, Appalachian Mountains-
Vittorio BottegoItalian19thSomalia-
Adam BrandGerman17thRussia, China-
Pierre Savorgnan de BrazzaItalian-French19thCongo-
Saint BrendanIrish6thAtlantic Ocean, Iceland-
Jim BridgerAmerican19thWestern United States-
James BruceScottish18thAlgeria, the Middle East, Egypt-
William S. BruceScottish20thAntarctica-
Jørgen BrønlundGreenlandic20thGreenland-
Étienne BrûléFrench17thCanada-
BungareeAboriginal Australian18th/19thAustralian coasts-
Lafayette BunnellAmerican19thYosemite Valley-
Johann Ludwig BurckhardtSwiss19thMiddle East, Sudan-
Robert O'Hara BurkeIrish19thAustralia-
Frederick Russell BurnhamAmerican19th/20thAfrica, Mexico-
Richard Francis BurtonEnglish19thEast Africa-
Thomas ButtonWelsh17thNorthwest Passage-
José de Bustamante y GuerraSpanish18thPacific Ocean-
Richard E. ByrdAmerican20thNorth Pole, Antarctica-
Álvar Núñez Cabeza de VacaSpanish16thSouthwestern United States, Mexico, Argentina-
John CabotItalian15thNorth American mainland -
Sebastian CabotItalian15thNorthwest Passage, Río de la Plata, Paraná River -
João CabralPortuguese16thBhutan & Nepal-
Pedro Álvares CabralPortuguese15th/16thBrazil, Madagascar-
Juan Rodríguez CabrilloPortuguese16thCalifornia-
Estêvão CacellaPortuguese16thHimalayas-
Alvise CadamostoItalian15thCape Verde islands-
Antoine de la Mothe CadillacFrench18thNorth America-
René CailliéFrench19thNorth Africa-
Álvaro CaminhaPortuguese15thSão Tomé and Príncipe islands-
Pêro Vaz de CaminhaPortuguese15thBrazil-
Alberto del CantoPortuguese15th/16thNorthwestern Mexico-
Diogo CãoPortuguese15thwest coast of Africa -
Hermenegildo de Brito CapeloPortuguese19thAfrican continent-
John CarpiniItalian13thCentral Asia, Mongolia-
Juan CarrascoSpanish18thPacific Northwest-
Kit CarsonAmerican19thRocky Mountains, California, Oregon, Great Basin-
Jan CarstenszDutch17thNew Guinea coast, Gulf of Carpentaria-
Jacques CartierFrench16thSt. Lawrence River-
João de CastroPortuguese15thIndia, Arabian Peninsula & Red Sea-
René-Robert Cavelier de La SalleFrench17thMississippi embayment-
Thomas CavendishEnglish16thVirginia, Pacific coast of Central and South America-
Merieme ChadidMoroccan, French20th/21stAntarctica, South America, Asia, Astronomer-
Paul Du ChailluFrench19thAfrica-
Harriet Chalmers AdamsAmerican19th/20thSouth America, Asia, South Pacific-
Samuel de ChamplainFrench16th/17thQuebec, Great Lakes-
Chang ChunChinese13thCentral Asia, Mongolia-
Jean ChardinFrench17thPersia, India-
Semion ChelyuskinRussian18thGreat Northern Expedition-
Vasily ChichagovRussian18thNorthern Sea Route-
Aleksei ChirikovRussian18thGreat Northern Expedition-
Fletcher ChristianEnglish18thPolynesia-
Boris ChukhnovskyRussian20thArctic-
Hugh ClappertonScottish19thwest and Central Africa-
William ClarkAmerican19thWestern United States-
Gonçalo CoelhoPortuguese15th/16thSouth American coast-
Nicolau CoelhoPortuguese15thBrazil-
Frank ColeCanadian20thSahara-
Bartholomew ColumbusItalian 15th/16thHispaniola, The Antilles-
Christopher ColumbusItalian
15th/16th
Bahamas, Caribbean, Central America, South America -
Diego ColumbusPortuguese16thHispaniola -
George ComerAmerican19th/20thArctic-
Niccolò Da ContiItalian
15th
India, Southeast Asia-
Frederick CookAmerican19th/20thArctic-
James CookEnglish18thAustralasia, Oceania-
Francisco Vásquez de CoronadoSpanish16thNew Mexico-
Diogo Álvares CorreiaPortuguese16thBrazil-
Gaspar Côrte-RealPortuguese16thNewfoundland, Greenland-
João Côrte-RealPortuguese15thAzores, Newfoundland -
Miguel Côrte-RealPortuguese16thGreenland, Newfoundland, Massachusetts-
Hernán CortésSpanish16thMexico-
Juan de la CosaSpanish15th/16thCaribbean, South America-
Thomas CoulterIrish19thMexico, Alta California-
Jean CousinFrench15thPossibly the Americas around 1488. Possibly mouth of the Amazon River-
Jacques-Yves CousteauFrench20ththe deep sea-
Pêro da CovilhãPortuguese15th/16thIndia, Ethiopia-
Tom CreanIrish20thAntarctica-
Andrew CroftEnglish20thArctic-
Tristão da CunhaPortuguese16thTristan da Cunha islands-
Jeremy CurlEnglish/Irish20thAfrican continent-
William Healey DallAmerican19thAlaska, Yukon-
William DampierEnglish17th/18thAustralia, Panama, many other locations-
Alexandra David-NéelFrench-Belgian20thTibet -
Isaac DavisWelsh18thHawaii-
John DavisEnglish16thEast Indies, Falkland Islands-
Wang DayuanChinese14thSoutheast Asia, Singapore-
Semyon DezhnevRussian17thSiberia, Bering Strait -
Bartolomeu DiasPortuguese15thAfrica-
Dinis DiasPortuguese15thNorthwest African coast-
Diogo DiasPortuguese16thMadagascar, Somalia-
Pêro DiasPortuguese15thAfrican coast-
DicuilIrish8thEngland, Scotland-
Karl von DitmarBaltic German19thKamchatka-
Francis DrakeEnglish16thCaribbean, Pacific Coast of North America-
Gil EanesPortuguese15thNorthwest African coast-
Juan Sebastián ElcanoSpanish16thcompleted Ferdinand Magellan's circumnavigation-
Francisco de ElizaSpanish18thStrait of Juan de Fuca and Strait of Georgia-
Lincoln EllsworthAmerican20thArctic and Antarctica-
Franz EngelGerman19thSouth America-
Leif ErikssonNorse Viking11thVinland and North American mainland -
Erik the RedNorse Viking10thGreenland-
Pedro EscobarPortuguese15thSão Tomé and Príncipe islands-
St Vincent Whitshed ErskineBritish-South African19thGazaland & Limpopo River-
Eudoxus of CyzicusGreek2nd BCIndian Ocean, attempted circumnavigation of Africa-
EuthymenesGreek6th BCNorthwest African coast-
George EverestWelsh19thIndia-
Evliya ÇelebiTurkish17thTurkey, Egypt, Africa, Europe-
Ahmad ibn FadlanAbbasid Caliphate10thEastern Europe, Middle East, Russia, Scandinavia-
João Álvares FagundesPortuguese16thNewfoundland and Nova Scotia-
Edmund FanningAmerican18th/19thOceania-
Percy Harrison FawcettEnglish20thAmazon Rainforest-
Álvaro FernandesPortuguese15thWest African coast-
Baltasar FernandesPortuguese17thBrazil-
Duarte FernandesPortuguese16thThailand-
Juan FernándezSpanish16thJuan Fernández Islands, Pacific Ocean-
Salvador FidalgoSpanish18thPacific Northwest-
Peter FidlerEnglish18thWestern Canada-
Sir Ranulph FiennesEnglish20th/21stArctic, Antarctica-
Matthew FlindersEnglish18th/19thAustralia, Tasmania-
Alexander ForbesScottish19thCalifornia-
Peter ForsskålFinnish18thArabian Peninsula-
John FranklinEnglish19thNorthwest Passage-
Simon FraserScottish18th/19thBritish Columbia-
Lançarote de FreitasPortuguese15thNorthwest African coast-
John C. FrémontAmerican19thOregon Trail, Sierra Nevada-
Marc-Joseph Marion du FresneFrench18thOceania-
Louis de FreycinetFrench19thWestern Australia, Oceania-
Martin FrobisherEnglish16thNorthwest Passage, Canada-
Xu FuChinese3rd BCJapan-
Juan de FucaGreek-Spanish16thStrait of Juan de Fuca, Canada–United States border-
Vivian FuchsEnglish20thAntarctica-
Alfons GabrielAustrian20thIran-
Yuri GagarinSoviet20thEarth orbit-
Martín GaleanoItalian -Spanish16thColombia-
Dionisio Alcalá GalianoSpanish18thPacific Northwest-
Juan GalindoSpanish/Irish19thMesoamerica -
Estevão da GamaPortuguese16thTrindade and Martim Vaz islands, Indian Ocean-
João da GamaPortuguese16thHokkaido, Kuril islands, North Pacific, North America-
Paulo da GamaPortuguese15thsea route from Europe to India-
Vasco da GamaPortuguese15th/16thsea route from Europe to India-
Pedro Sarmiento de GamboaSpanish16thSolomon Islands-
Thomas GannIrish19th/20thMesoamerica -
Aleixo GarciaPortuguese16thBrazil, Paraguay and Bolivia-
Francisco García Jofre de LoaísaSpanish16thPacific Ocean-
Francis GarnierFrench19thMekong River-
Adrien de GerlacheBelgian19th/20thAntarctica, Arctic-
Romolo GessiItalian19ththe Nile, Sudan-
Humphrey GilbertEnglish16thNorth America-
Ernest GilesAustralian19thCentral Australia-
Diogo GomesPortuguese15thWest African coast-
André GonçalvesPortuguese15th/16thBrazil-
Antão GonçalvesPortuguese15thWest African coast-
Lopes GonçalvesPortuguese15thAtlantic Ocean-
Binot Paulmier de GonnevilleFrench15th/16thBrazil -
James Augustus GrantScottish19thEast Africa-
João GregoPortuguese15thAfrican coast-
Juan de GrijalvaSpanish16thMexico, Nicaragua-
Grigory Grum-GrshimailoRussian19th/20thCentral Asia, Tuva, Far East-
Gonzalo GuerreroSpanish16thYucatán Peninsula-
Mikhail GvozdevRussian18thFirst Kamchatka Expedition, Great Northern Expedition-
Charles GwynnIrish19th/20thSudan-
Niels Peter Høeg HagenDanish20thGreenland-
Hanno the NavigatorCarthaginian6th BCWest African coast-
HannuEgyptian21st/20th BCEast Africa-
Gonzalo López de HaroSpanish18thPacific Northwest-
Alfred HarrisonEnglish20thArctic-
Dirk HartogDutch17thWestern Australian coast-
Ahmed Pasha HassaneinEgyptian20thOweinat and the Sahara-
Ferdinand Vandeveer HaydenAmerican19thRocky Mountains and the Western United States-
Zheng HeChinese15thSouth Asia, Southeast Asia, Middle East, East African coast-
Samuel HearneEnglish18thNorth Canada, Arctic-
Bruno de HecetaSpanish18thPacific Northwest-
Sven HedinSwedish19th/20thCentral Asia-
Matthew Alexander HensonAmerican20thArctic-
Louis HennepinBelgian-French17thNorth American interior-
Pedro de HerediaSpanish16thNorthern Colombia-
Bjarni HerjulfssonNorse Viking10thNorth America-
William Lewis HerndonAmerican19thAmazon basin-
HerodotusGreek5th BCNear East, Middle East, North Africa-
Thor HeyerdahlNorwegian20thanthropological ocean voyages-
Sir Edmund HillaryNew Zealander20thMount Everest, Antarctica-
Himilco the NavigatorCarthaginian6th BCNorthwestern coast of Europe-
HippalusGreek1st BCIndian Ocean-
Clement HodgkinsonEnglish19thNew South Wales -
Pelham AldrichEnglish19th/20thArctic-
Emil HolubCzech19thAfrica-
Robert HottotFrench20thCongo River-
Cornelis de HoutmanDutch16thsea route from Europe to Indonesia-
Frederick de HoutmanDutch16th/17thWestern Australian coast-
William HovellEnglish19thSouthern New South Wales-
Du HuanChinese8thCentral Asia, Middle East, East African coast-
Henry HudsonEnglish17thNorthwest Passage, Hudson River and Hudson Bay-
Alexander von HumboldtGerman19thLatin America, Siberia-
Hamilton HumeAustralian19thAustralian interior-
James S. HutchinsonAmerican20thSierra Nevada -
HyechoKorean8thIndia, Persia and Central Asia-
João InfantePortuguese15thAfrican coast-
Helge IngstadNorwegian20thNewfoundland, Greenland, Alaska-
James IrwinAmerican20thThe Moon-
Kurbat IvanovSiberian Cossack17thSiberia, Russian Far East, discoverer of Lake Baikal-
Roberto IvensPortuguese19thAfrican continent-
Cristóvão JacquesPortuguese16thParaná River, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina-
James of IrelandIrish14thSumatra, China-
Willem JanszoonDutch17thAustralia -
Anthony JenkinsonEnglish16thRussia, Persia-
Louis JollietFrench Canadian17thMississippi River-
Jørgen JørgensenDanish18th/19thTasmania-
Friar JulianHungarian13thVolga Bulgaria-
Thorfinn KarlsefniIcelandic11thVinland-
Johann Karl Ehrenfried KegelGerman19thKamchatka-
George KennanAmerican19th/20thRussia-
Edmund KennedyBritish-Australian19thAustralian interior-
Robert KennicottAmerican19thAlaska, Siberia, Yukon and Northern Canada-
Yerofey KhabarovRussian17thSecond Russian to explore the Amur region-
Khashkhash Ibn Saeed Ibn AswadAndalusian9thAtlantic Ocean -
Mary KingsleyEnglish19thCameroon, Gabon, Congo, and other South West African regions-
Eusebio KinoItalian17th/18thCalifornias, Sonora and Arizona-
Maria KlenovaRussian20thOne of the founders of marine geology-
Amyr KlinkBrazilian20thAntarctica-
John KnightEnglish17thGreenland, Labrador-
Ness KnightSouth African21stSouth America, Namibia-
Johan Peter KochDanish20thGreenland-
Alexander KolchakRussian20thRussian Arctic-
Ferdinand KonščakCroatian17thBaja California Peninsula-
Fyodor KonyukhovRussian20th/21stcircumnavigation, Explorers Grand Slam, pole of inaccessibility-
Otto von KotzebueBaltic German19thPacific Ocean-
Pyotr KozlovRussian20thMongolia, Tibet-
Johann Ludwig KrapfGerman19thEthiopia, Kenya-
Pyotr KrenitsynRussian18thAlaska, Aleutian Islands, Kamchatka Peninsula-
Adam Johann von KrusensternBaltic German19thFirst Russian circumnavigation-
Francisco de LacerdaPortuguese18thZambia-
Juan LadrilleroSpanish16thChile-
Ernest Doudard de LagréeFrench19thIndochina, Mekong and Yunnan-
Alexander Gordon LaingScottish19thWest Africa -
Pierre Martin de La MartinièreFrench17thNorway, Lapland, northern Russia, Novaya Zemlya, Greenland and Iceland-
Richard Lemon LanderCornish19thWest Africa -
Grigori Ivanovitch LangsdorffRussian-German19thBrazil-
Jean-François de Galaup, comte de La PérouseFrench18thPacific Rim-
Khariton LaptevRussian18thGreat Northern Expedition-
Anthony de la RochéEnglish17thAntarctica-
João Fernandes LavradorPortuguese15th/16thLabrador-
Joseph N. LeConteAmerican20thSierra Nevada -
Albert von Le CoqGerman19th/20thCentral Asia-
John LedyardAmerican18thAustralasia, Oceania, Russia-
Miguel López de LegazpiSpanish16thPhilippines-
Ludwig LeichhardtGerman19thAustralian interior-
Jacob Le MaireDutch17thSouth Pacific -
Gaspar de LemosPortuguese15thBrazil-
Dragutin LermanCroatian19th/20thCongo-
Mikhail LevashevRussian18thAlaska, Aleutian Islands, Kamchatka Peninsula-
Meriwether LewisAmerican18th/19thWestern United States-
Sir Martin Lindsay, 1st BaronetScottish20thEast Greenland-
João de LisboaPortuguese15th/16thIndian Ocean, Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina-
St. George LittledaleEnglish19thCentral Asia and North America-
David LivingstoneScottish19thSouthern and East Africa-
Louis-Philippe LonckeBelgian21stAustralia, the Andes and Iceland-
Jim LovellAmerican20thOuter Space-
Alexander MackenzieScottish Canadian18th/19thCanada-
Ferdinand MagellanPortuguese15th/16th1st circumnavigation, Philippines, Strait of Malacca, Indian Ocean-
Jacques MahuFrench-Dutch16thCape Verde islands-
Alessandro MalaspinaItalian-Spanish18thPacific Ocean-
Teoberto MalerGerman-Italian19thMesoamerica -
George MalloryEnglish20thMount Everest-
Lancelotto MalocelloItalian13th/14thLanzarote -
Albert Hastings MarkhamBritish19thArctic-
Lourenço MarquesPortuguese16thMozambique-
Jacques MarquetteFrench17thMississippi River-
Álvaro MartinsPortuguese15thNewfoundland, Cape of Good Hope-
Pedro MascarenhasPortuguese16thIndian Ocean, Diego Garcia-
John Minor MauryAmerican19thDarién Gap-
Douglas MawsonAustralian20thAntarctica-
Robert McClureIrish19thArctic-
Robert McCormickBritish19thArctic and Antarctic Oceans-
Álvaro de MendañaSpanish16thPacific Ocean-
António Lopes MendesPortuguese19thBrazil, India-
Cristóvão de MendonçaPortuguese16thEast Asia, Australasia-
Pedro de MendozaSpanish16thSouth America-
Jorge de MenezesPortuguese16thPapua New Guinea-
Archibald MenziesScottish18th/19thPacific Ocean, circumnavigation-
Alexander von MiddendorffRussian-Baltic German19thSiberia, Far East, Lapland, Fergana Valley-
Ejnar MikkelsenDanish20thGreenland-
Nicholas Miklouho-MaclayRussian19thNew Guinea-
Thomas MitchellScottish19thAustralian interior-
Richard MohunAmerican19th/20thCongo Free State-
Pierre Dugua, Sieur de MonsFrench16th/17thNorth America-
George Fletcher MooreIrish19thAustralia-
John MoresbyEnglish19thNew Guinea coast-
Ivan MoskvitinRussian17thFirst European to reach the Sea of Okhotsk-
António MotaPortuguese16thJapan-
Henri MouhotFrench19thSouth East Asia-
Francisco Antonio MourelleSpanish18thPacific Northwest and Pacific Ocean-
Bimal MukherjeeIndian20thcircumnavigation-
Ludvig Mylius-ErichsenDanish20thGreenland-
Gustav NachtigalGerman19thAfrica-
NaddoddurNorse Viking9thIceland-
Nain Singh Rawat Indian19thTibet, Himalayas and Central Asia-
Fridtjof NansenNorwegian19th/20thArctic-
José María NarváezSpanish18thPacific Northwest-
NearchusGreek4th BCArabian Sea, Persian Gulf-
NehsiEgyptian15th BCLand of Punt-
Arthur Henry NeumannEnglish19thAfrica-
Gennady NevelskoyRussian19thSakhalin-
Jean NicoletFrench17thNorthwest Territory -
Joseph NicolletFrench-American19thMississippi and Missouri Rivers-
Afanasiy NikitinRussian15thIndia-
António NoliPortuguese15thCape Verde islands-
Adolf Erik NordenskiöldFinnish19thArctic-
Tenzing NorgayNepalese20thMount Everest-
Fernão de NoronhaPortuguese15th/16thAtlantic Ocean-
João da NovaGalician-Portuguese16thAtlantic and Indian Oceans-
Paulo Dias de NovaisPortuguese16thAngola-
Kazimierz NowakPolish20thAfrica-
Sebastián de OcampoSpanish16thCaribbean, Gulf of Mexico-
Odoric of PordenoneItalian14thPersia, India and China-
Peter Skene OgdenCanadian19thSnake River country, Western United States-
Alonso de OjedaSpanish15th/16thSouth America, Caribbean-
Juan de OñateSpanish16thAmerican Southwest-
Francisco de OrellanaSpanish16thSouth America, Amazon River-
:de:Simone Orlandini|Simone OrlandiniItalian21stArctic, Tibet-
Íñigo Órtiz de RetesSpanish16thPapua New Guinea-
John OxenhamEnglish16thPanama, Pacific Ocean-
John OxleyEnglish19thAustralia-
Pedro PáezSpanish16th/17thEthiopia-
Juan PardoSpanish16thSoutheastern United States-
Mungo ParkScottish18th/19thWest Africa -
William ParryEnglish19thArctic-
James Ohio PattieAmerican19thWestern United States-
Fiann PaulIcelandic21stArctic, Antarctic, Oceans-
Nathaniel PearceEnglish19thEthiopia-
Robert PearyAmerican19th/20thArctic-
Paul PelliotFrench19th/20thcentral Asia-
Diogo Fernandes PereiraPortuguese15th/16thMadagascar, Mascarenes -
Duarte Pacheco PereiraPortuguese15thAtlantic Ocean, Brazil-
Bartolomeu PerestreloPortuguese15thMadeira Islands-
Juan PérezSpanish18thPacific Northwest-
Maksim PerfilyevSiberian Cossack17thEastern Siberia, first Russian to reach Transbaikalia-
Ivan PetlinSiberian Cossack17thFirst Russian to reach China-
Auguste PiccardSwiss20thEarth's atmosphere, the deep sea-
Jacques PiccardSwiss20ththe deep sea-
Antonio PigafettaItalian 16thSurvived the 1st circumnavigation of the world-
Zebulon PikeAmerican19thLouisiana Purchase -
Alonso Alvarez de PinedaSpanish16thGulf Coast-
Fernão Mendes PintoPortuguese16thIndia, Far East, Japan-
Serpa PintoPortuguese19thSouthern Africa-
Martin Alonzo PinzónSpanish15thCaribbean-
Vicente Yáñez PinzónSpanish15th/16thCaribbean, Brazil-
Luís PiresPortuguese15thabortive voyage to Brazil-
Francisco PizarroSpanish16thHispaniola, Panama, Peru-
Fernão do PóPortuguese15thWest African coast-
Marco PoloItalian 13th/14thChina, Mongol Empire, India-
Juan Ponce de LeónSpanish15th/16thFlorida-
Peter PondAmerican18th/19thCanadian interior-
Fedot PopovRussian17thThe first European expedition through the Bering Strait-
António da Silva PortoPortuguese19thAngola interior-
Gaspar de PortolàSpanish18thAlta and Baja California-
PosidoniusGreek1st BCGaul-
Sydney PossueloBrazilian20th/21stAmazon-
Panayotis PotagosGreek19thAfrica-
Grigory PotaninRussian19thInner Asia-
John Wesley PowellAmerican19thWestern United States-
Vassili PoyarkovRussian17thFirst Russian explorer of the Amur region-
Mandil PradhanNepalese21stHimalayas-
Gavriil PribylovRussian18thPribilof Islands-
Vasili PronchishchevRussian18thGreat Northern Expedition-
Maria PronchishchevaRussian18thThe first female Arctic explorer-
Nathaniel Hale PryorAmerican19thwestern United States-
Nikolai PrzhevalskyRussian19thCentral Asia-
Peter PugetEnglish19thPuget Sound-
PytheasGreek4th BCNorthern Europe-
Zhang QianChinese2nd BCCentral Asia-
Pedro Fernandes de QueirósPortuguese16th/17thOceania-
Gonzalo Jiménez de QuesadaSpanish16thFrom Santa Marta to the Bogotá savanna; quest for El Dorado-
Hernán Pérez de QuesadaSpanish16thCaquetá, Colombia; quest for El Dorado-
Manuel QuimperSpanish18thPacific Northwest-
Emil RacovițăRomanian19th/20thAntarctica-
John RaeScottish Canadian19thNorthwest Passage, Canadian Arctic-
Sir Walter RaleighEnglish16th/17thVirginia, Orinoco River-
Knud RasmussenDanish20thArctic-
Piri ReisTurkish15th/16thMediterranean Sea-
Matteo RicciItalian16thChina-
Mario RigbyTurks and Caicos Islander21stAfrica-
Arthur RimbaudFrench19thHorn of Africa -
Luigi RobecchiItalian19thAfrica-
Anthony de la RochéEnglish17thAntarctic -
Diogo RodriguesPortuguese16thMascarene Islands-
Nicholas RoerichRussian20thCentral Asia, Northeast Asia-
Jacob RoggeveenDutch18thSouth Pacific -
Cândido RondonBrazilian19th/20thBrazilian interior -
James Clark RossEnglish19thArctic, Antarctic-
Sir John RossScottish19thArctic-
John RossScottish Australian19thNorthern Territory-
William of RubruckFlemish13thCentral Asia-
Nikolay RudanovskyRussian19thSakhalin-
Henry RussellIrish19thPyrenees-
Ahmad ibn RustahPersian10thRussia, Scandinavia, Arabia-
João de SáPortuguese15th/16thIndia, African coast-
Álvaro de SaavedraSpanish16thPapua New Guinea, Caroline Islands, Marshall Islands-
Edward SabineIrish19thArctic-
SacagaweaLemhi Shoshone18th/19thWestern United States-
Anatoly SagalevichRussian20th/21stExplorer of the World Ocean, seabed at the North Pole-
Kira SalakAmerican20th/21stPapua New Guinea, Mali, Bhutan-
Alonso de SalazarSpanish16thMarshall Islands, Pacific Ocean-
Gadiel Sánchez RiveraPeruvian21stAmazon, Lake Titicaca-
Sándor Kőrösi CsomaHungarian19thTibet-
Yakov SannikovRussian19thNew Siberian Islands-
João de SantarémPortuguese15thSão Tomé and Príncipe islands-
Gavril SarychevRussian18th/19thSea of Okhotsk, Baltic Sea, Aleutian Islands-
Martin SauerEnglish18thSiberia, Alaska-
Rabban Bar SaumaTurco-Mongol13thEurope, Middle East-
Johann SchiltbergerGerman15thCentral Asia-
Adolf SchlagintweitGerman19thCentral Asia-
Eduard SchlagintweitGerman19thCentral Asia-
Emil SchlagintweitGerman19thCentral Asia-
Hermann SchlagintweitGerman19thCentral Asia-
Robert SchlagintweitGerman19thCentral Asia-
Ulrich SchmidlGerman16thRío de la Plata-
Willem SchoutenDutch17thSouth Pacific -
Georg August SchweinfurthBaltic German19thEast and Central Africa-
Robert Falcon ScottEnglish19th/20thAntarctica -
Scylax of CaryandaGreek6th BCIndus River, Indian Ocean, Red Sea-
Tibor SekeljCroat20thArgentina-
Mirko and Stjepan SeljanCroat20thEthiopia, South America-
Frederick Courtney SelousEnglish19thAfrica-
Symon SemeonisHiberno-Norman14thJerusalem, Albania-
Gomes de SequeiraPortuguese16thCaroline Islands, Pacific Ocean-
João SerrãoPortuguese15th/16th1st Circumnavigation ; commanded the ship Santiago in the Atlantic and the Concepcion across the Pacific, Strait of Malacca, Indian Ocean-
Francisco SerrãoPortuguese15th/16thIndonesia-
Ernest ShackletonEnglish-Irish20thAntarctica-
Robert Barkley ShawEnglish19thCentral Asia-
Eric ShiptonEnglish20thMount Everest, southern Patagonia-
Tanaka ShōsukeJapanese17thMexico-
Diogo SilvesPortuguese15thAzores-
James SimpsonEnglish20thNorth Greenland-
Pêro de SintraPortuguese15thWest African coast, Sierra Leone-
Pierre-Jean De SmetBelgian19thNorth America-
Jedediah SmithAmerican19thWestern United States, Rocky Mountains-
John SmithEnglish17thNorth America-
William SmithEnglish19thSouth Shetland Islands-
Eugene SmurgisRussian20thArctic Ocean-
J. Dewey SoperCanadian20thCanadian Arctic-
Hernando de SotoSpanish16thCentral America, Southern United States-
Martim Afonso de SousaPortuguese16thBrazilian interior-
John Hanning SpekeEnglish19thEast Africa-
Hans StadenGerman16thBrazil-
Ed StaffordEnglish21stAmazon-
William Grant StairsCanadian19thCentral Africa-
Henry Morton StanleyWelsh19thEast Africa-
Vilhjalmur StefanssonIcelandic Canadian20thCanadian Arctic-
Marc Aurel SteinHungarian-British19th/20thCentral Asia-
John Lloyd StephensAmerican19thMiddle East, Mesoamerica -
Paweł StrzeleckiPolish-British19ththe Americas, Australia -
John McDouall StuartScottish19thAustralian Interior-
Charles SturtBritish19thAustralian Interior-
Gardar SvavarssonSwedish9thIceland-
Anders SvedlundSwedish20thOceans-
Otto SverdrupNorwegian19th/20thArctic-
Ignacije SzentmartonyCroat18thAmazon River-
Abel TasmanDutch17thAustralasia, including Tasmania-
António Raposo TavaresPortuguese17thParaguay River, part of the Andes mountain range, Grande River, Mamoré River, Madeira River, Amazon River Union of La Plata Basin to the Amazon River - circumnavigation of Brazil.-
Jean-Baptiste TavernierFrench17thPersia, India-
Mikhail TebenkovRussian19thAlaska, Aleutian Islands, Amur River-
Pedro TeixeiraPortuguese17thAmazon River-
Tristão Vaz TeixeiraPortuguese15thMadeira Islands-
Wilfred ThesigerEnglish20thAfrica, Middle East-
David ThompsonWelsh–English18th/19thWestern Canada, Pacific Northwest-
Guðríður ÞorbjarnardóttirIcelandic11thNorth America-
Harold William TilmanEnglish20thHimalayas, Patagonia-
Yermak TimofeyevichRussian16thSiberia-
Gherman TitovRussian20thFirst person to orbit the Earth multiple times-
Tenjiku TokubeiJapanese17thSouth East Asia, India-
Eduard TollBaltic German19thArctic-
Luis Váez de TorresSpanish Galician16th/17thAustralasia-
Nuno TristãoPortuguese15thWest African coast, Guinea-Bissau-
Petrus Johannes TruterDutch19thBechuanaland-
Hasekura TsunenagaJapanese17thMexico, Europe-
Benjamin of TudelaJewish Navarrese12thMediterranean Sea, Arabian Peninsula, Red Sea, Persian Gulf-
Andrés de UrdanetaSpanish16thPacific Ocean, Manila Galleon route-
Jules Dumont d'UrvilleFrench19thAntarctica-
Cayetano Valdés y FloresSpanish18thPacific Northwest-
George VancouverEnglish18thPacific coast of North America-
Ludovico di VarthemaItalian15th/16thArabian Peninsula, Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia-
Gonçalo VelhoPortuguese15thAzores-
François de La VérendryeFrench Canadian18thWestern Canada-
Louis-Joseph Gaultier de La VérendryeFrench Canadian18thGreat Plains-
Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La VérendryeFrench18thGreat Plains-
Giovanni da VerrazzanoItalian16thEast Coast of the United States-
Amerigo VespucciItalian15th/16thEastern South American coast, Caribbean-
Flóki VilgerðarsonNorse Viking9thIceland-
Ruy López de VillalobosSpanish16thPacific Ocean, Philippines-
Vandino and Ugolino VivaldiItalian13thAfrica, in a failed attempt to reach India-
Sebastián VizcaínoSpanish16thNorthwest Pacific, California Coast-
Willem de VlaminghDutch17thSouthwest Australian coast-
Maarten Gerritsz VriesDutch17thNorthwest Pacific -
Lionel WaferWelsh17thMalay Archipelago, Isthmus of Panama-
Jean-Frédéric WaldeckFrench19thMesoamerica -
Thomas WalkerAmerican18thEastern United States-
Gino WatkinsEnglish20thEast Greenland & Labrador-
Langdon WarnerAmerican20ththe Silk Road-
Alfred WegenerGerman20thGreenland-
John WhiteEnglish15thRoanoke Island-
Jim WhittakerAmerican20thMount Everest, Antarctica-
Frederick WhymperEnglish19thAlaska, Kamchatka, Yukon-
Charles WilkesAmerican19thPacific Ocean-
Edward Adrian WilsonEnglish19th/20thAntarctica-
Ernest Henry WilsonEnglish19th/20thEast Asia, East Africa, Central and South America, Australia, New Zealand-
James WilsonBritish18thPacific Islands-
Thomas Braidwood WilsonScottish Australian19thAustralia-
Harry de WindtFrench19th/20thEurasia-
Fanny Bullock WorkmanAmerican19th/20thHimalaya-
Ferdinand von WrangelBaltic German19thNorthern Russia-
XuanzangChinese7thIndian subcontinent, Central Asia-
John YoungScottish-English18thHawaii-
Sir Francis YounghusbandBritish19th/20thCentral Asia-
João Gonçalves ZarcoPortuguese15thMadeira Islands-
Gonzalo García ZorroSpanish16thColombia-