Top 10 popular voyages

The world’s past is full of great inventions, and adventures. In this article, you will come to know about those legendary folks who diligently hunted for the world edges so that we can create a map of our globe. It should not be surprising that these journeys had taken several years of resolute traveling in the unfamiliar regions. Listed below is the list of top 10 popular voyages along with the explorers who returned successfully as heroes.

Neil Armstrong – First human on the moon

Born in 1930 at Ohio, Neil became the first American civilian astronaut in September 1962. In 1969, he was selected as the Apollo 11’s commander to land on the Earth’s only satellite. Along with him, Edwin Buzz and Michael Collins started their journey from the Kennedy Space Center July 16 and successfully landed on moon after four days at 10:56 pm captivating the attention of each man on the Earth via TV and radio. Then, Armstrong walked for some two hours on the moon to fix a wind particle collector and seismograph as well as to take up soil and rock samples. Bravo!

Sir Edmund Hillary – First human on the Everest

Born in Auckland in 1919, the hero decided to climb this highest peak on Earth in 1953. During this time, the only route was from Nepal allowing only one expedition in a year. Sir Edmund started this expedition with two separate teams – Tom Bourdillion and Charles Evans together and Edmund Hillary with the Sherpa mountaineer called Tenzing Norgay. From the two, Edmund and the Sherpa via the South Col Route stepped the summit on May 29 at 11:30am. They took some photos and buried a cross before they came down.

Christopher Columbus – Looking for Asia, but found America

We all know this champ. Born in Italy in the year 1451, Columbus was backed by Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II of Spain to take a west route to reach Asia. In 1492, he left Palos with three ships, went via Canary Islands where he replenish these ships, sustained for five weeks in the Atlantic, and finally saw some land in 1492. On reaching the island, Columbus gave the name of San Salvador and discovered Haiti as well as Dominican Republic. He was the man to also find out the Caribbean islands.

Roald Amundsen’s – Hunting for Northwest Passage

This was the hero of Norwegian ship holders. His first voyage was called the Belgian Antarctic journey in 1897-1899. However, as a leader, his first voyage was in 1903 to seek the Northwest Passage. He started with a team of six people in a steel ship called Gjoa from the Baffin Bay and took the route via Resolute to Gjoa Haven. After spending a whole year here, they went through the Victoria Island’s south coast from where they reached the Canadian north coast followed by Alaska’s Eagle City in late 1905. After spending winter here, he reached in 1906. Later, he became the first human to step at the South Pole and also the first to pass above the North Pole.

Hernan Cortes – Overcoming the Aztec empire

Born in Spain’s Medellin in 1485, Cortez like Columbus went on the discovery of the New World in 1504. He became a colonist of the Hispaniola Caribbean Island and aided in conquesting it along Cuba after which he was awarded a large estate as well as some Indian slaves. Then in 1518, he became interested for a voyage to Mexico. He started in February 1519 along with 11 vessels, 13 horses, and 500 men. After arriving at the Yucatan, he reached to the inland Tenochitlan city assisting many Indians who now did not support the Aztec rule.

Charles Darwin’s – Over to the HMS Beagle

Born in 1809, he began with Captain Robert FitzRoy in 1831, which lasted for five years. He spent his time to find about geology and natural history on these lands. The path was from England’s Portsmouth – Santiago – Brazil – Punta Alta – Chile – the Galapagos – the southern Australia – the Cocos – Cape Town. This hero could successfully find a myriad of species on this expedition and started forming ideas via these to form the Theory of Evolution.

Ferdinand Magellan – Seeking for the globe’s first circumnavigation

Born in 1480 at Portugal, this hero’s adulthood was dedicated to fighting in India, Egypt, and Malaysia. Due to no appreciation, he joined the Seville court in Spain. This was the time when the New World was divided. Magellan was of the opinion that Spice (Molucca) Islands was on the side of Spain. So, King Charles V supported this idea and Magellan with five ships left Spain in 1519 – almost for an unguided journey. He routed via Brazil, South American shore, San Julian, Patagonia, Guam, and Cebu of Philippines. It was here that Magellan entered into a war with a local monarch. Along with the brother-in-law and a commander, Magellan also died. Juan Sebastian who was a former rebellion completed this circumnavigation and reached Seville in 1522.

Marco Polo – On the way to China

This man was the inspiration of many after he stepped on planet in 1254 in Venice. In 1271, he along with his father and uncle set out to reach Cathay (now China). Their trip included the destinations such as Armenia, Afghanistan, the Pamir mountains, the Silk Road, and the Gobi desert to Cambaluc (Beijing). The entire voyage took them over three years. Marco Polo then lived for 17 years at the Khan’s court where he was designated with many government positions.

Stanley – For Livingstone

David Livingstone was a messenger who, in 1841, reached Africa and discovered the African interior, Victoria Falls, and Nile’s source. His went from Zanzibar, to Ruvuma River, Lake Malawi, and Lake Tanganyika. His death rumors were swirling in America and Europe during which Henry Morton Stanley became interested in his voyage.

Lewis and Clark – West expansion voyage

Both these left St. Louis in 1804 and started moving towards the Missouri River. They wintered at Fort Mandan (now Bismark of North Dakota) and then moved to the Continental Divide and finally to the Columbia Rivers and the Pacific. On the site of Columbia’s mouth, they erected Fort Clatsop no known as Astoria in Oregon.

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