Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer and navigator, is widely recognized for his voyage across the Atlantic Ocean in 1492, which led to the European discovery of the Americas.

Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer, led the first expedition to successfully circumnavigate the globe, setting sail in 1519 and returning to Spain in 1522.

John Hanning Speke, a British explorer, discovered the source of the Nile River in 1858, identifying Lake Victoria as its primary source.

Robert Peary, an American explorer, is credited with reaching the North Pole in 1909, along with his team of explorers.

Francisco de Orellana, a Spanish explorer, is renowned for his exploration of the Amazon River in the 16th century, becoming the first European to navigate its entire length.

Hiram Bingham, an American explorer and historian, discovered the ruins of Machu Picchu in 1911, bringing worldwide attention to this ancient Inca city.

David Livingstone, a Scottish explorer and missionary, is renowned for his extensive exploration of Africa in the 19th century, contributing significantly to the understanding of the continent's geography and people.

Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian explorer, led the first expedition to reach the South Pole in 1911, becoming the first person to stand at both the North and South Poles.

William Edward Parry, a British explorer, conducted several expeditions to the Arctic in the early 19th century, contributing to the understanding of the region's geography and climate.

David Livingstone, a Scottish explorer and missionary, discovered the Victoria Falls in 1855, naming it after Queen Victoria.

Roy Chapman Andrews, an American explorer and naturalist, conducted several expeditions to the Gobi Desert in the early 20th century, making significant discoveries of dinosaur fossils and ancient artifacts.

Edmund Hillary, a New Zealand mountaineer, and Tenzing Norgay, a Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer, became the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1953.

Ernest Shackleton, an Irish-born explorer, led several expeditions to the Antarctic in the early 20th century, including the famous Endurance expedition, which became trapped in pack ice.

Heinrich Schliemann, a German archaeologist, discovered the ruins of Troy in Turkey in the 19th century, confirming the existence of the legendary city from Homer's Iliad.