Stories of the thrills and hardships faced by modern expeditions that continue to enhance our understanding of the world around us This book profiles thirty-nine modern explorers who have disproved the idea that there is nowhere left to discover and explore. Some are greatly experienced and are celebrated worldwide, while others are young or less well known and just starting to make their mark. Here are challenging and extraordinary expeditions to the remotest parts of the world by explorers from the United States, Australia, China, France, and beyond. Eight thematic sections cover all terrains: Polar, Desert, Rainforest, Mountain, Ocean, River, Under Sea, Under Land, and Lost Worlds. Written mainly by the explorers themselves, the accounts provide a unique insight into what it is actually like to join an expedition, from being dragged through the top of the rainforest canopy in an inflatable raft suspended from a balloon to pedaling a boat across the Pacific to standing on the edge of an erupting volcano. Their stories are supplemented with dramatic expedition photographs, many capturing the moment of discovery or danger. 268 illustrations, 256 in color