Explorers from Norway

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary Norwegians Explorers of all time. This list of famous Norwegians Explorers is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography's online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of Norwegians Explorers.

1. #1

   

   Roald Amundsen

   1872 - 1928

   HPI 84.99160 langs

   Roald Amundsen is most famous for being the first person to reach the South Pole.

2. #2

   

   Fridtjof Nansen

   1861 - 1930

   HPI 80.3888 langs

   Fridtjof Nansen is most famous for his exploration of the Arctic and his invention of a new type of ship, the Fram.

3. #3

   

   Erik the Red

   950 - 1003

   HPI 79.5663 langs

   Erik the Red is most famous for being the father of Leif Erikson, the first European to set foot in North America.

4. #4

   

   Thor Heyerdahl

   1914 - 2002

   HPI 77.1477 langs

   Thor Heyerdahl is most famous for his Kon-Tiki expedition. He was a Norwegian explorer who wanted to prove that people from South America...Read moreShow less

   Thor Heyerdahl is most famous for his Kon-Tiki expedition. He was a Norwegian explorer who wanted to prove that people from South America could have traveled to Polynesia on balsa wood rafts.

5. #5

   

   Ingólfr Arnarson

   850 - 910

   HPI 73.0349 langs

   Ingólfr Arnarson is most famous for being the first Norse settler in Iceland, in 874.

6. #6

   

   Otto Sverdrup

   1854 - 1930

   HPI 64.3930 langs

   Norwegian sailor and Arctic explorer (1854-1930)

7. #7

   

   Carsten Borchgrevink

   1864 - 1934

   HPI 63.8028 langs

   Anglo-Norwegian polar explorer

8. #8

   

   Ohthere of Hålogaland

   900 - 901

   HPI 62.2522 langs

   Ohthere of Hålogaland is most famous for being a Viking explorer.

9. #9

   

   Naddodd

   b. 900

   HPI 61.9222 langs

   Norwegian explorer

10. #10

    

    Carl Anton Larsen

    1860 - 1924

    HPI 61.8626 langs

    Norwegian explorer and whaler (1860–1924)