Adolf Erik Nordenskiold is considered the father of Finnish minerology. He was also a world famous explorer. In 1872-75 Nordenskiold tried and failed to reach the north pole, but did reach the highest northern latitude to date, +81° 42 min. Later, he became the first man to sail the northeast passage, the sea route following the north coast of Eurasia from Norway to the Bering Straits, in 1878-79.