Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer and navigator who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, under the patronage of the Spanish King and Queen, with the goal of finding a new route to Asia.

Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer who led the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe. He set sail from Spain in 1519 with five ships, but only one, the Victoria, returned to Spain in 1522, completing the first circumnavigation of the world.

Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer who discovered the sea route to India around the Cape of Good Hope. He set sail from Lisbon in 1497 and reached India in 1498, becoming the first European to reach India by sea.

James Cook was a British explorer, navigator, and cartographer who explored the Pacific Ocean and discovered Australia and New Zealand. He made three voyages to the Pacific, charting the coasts of Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii, and disproving the theory of a vast southern continent.

John Speke was a British explorer who discovered the source of the Nile River. He reached Lake Victoria in 1858 and correctly identified it as the source of the Nile.

Robert Peary was an American explorer who was the first European to reach the North Pole. He reached the North Pole on April 6, 1909, after several failed attempts.

Roald Amundsen was a Norwegian explorer who reached the South Pole first. He reached the South Pole on December 14, 1911, beating Robert Falcon Scott's expedition by 35 days.

Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first people to climb Mount Everest. They reached the summit on May 29, 1953.

Hiram Bingham was an American explorer who discovered the lost city of Machu Picchu in 1911.

Ann Bancroft was the first woman to reach the North Pole. She reached the North Pole on April 3, 1986.

Robert Ballard was an American oceanographer who discovered the Titanic wreck in 1985.

Børge Ousland was the first person to walk to the North Pole. He reached the North Pole on May 1, 1994.

Joshua Slocum was an American sailor who completed the first solo circumnavigation of the globe. He set sail from Boston in 1895 and returned in 1898.

Reinhold Messner was the first person to reach the summit of Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. He reached the summit on May 8, 1978.