Roald Amundsen was a Norwegian explorer who is best known for leading the first expedition to reach the South Pole in 1911. He was also the first person to traverse the Northwest Passage in 1906. Amundsen was an experienced navigator and a skilled organizer, and his expeditions were meticulously planned. He was also an accomplished skier and dog sled driver. Amundsen's explorations of the Arctic and Antarctic regions made him one of the most famous explorers of the 20th century.