Isaksen  Gunnar 
(03.10.1868–19.12.1939)

Outstanding Norwegian polar explorer.

Born in Drobaka, where he spent his childhood. His father was a sea captain. After receiving secondary education Isaksen studied at the Norwegian Military Academy. 
His first acquaintance with the Arctic took place in 1898-1902. Isaksen took part in the Second Norwegian expedition on the "Frame". The expedition, led by the closest associate of  F. Nansen, O. Sverdrup, spent four winterings in the Canadian Arctic archipelago and was marked by major geographical discoveries, largely specifying and clarifying the outlines of numerous islands of the archipelago. Astronomer and topographer Isaksen made a significant contribution to the brilliant successes of the expedition. The detachments of Isaksen and S. Hassela discovered the islands of Ellef-Ringnes and Amund-Ringnes. 
After the completion of this expedition, Isaksen conceived a new, already independent Arctic enterprise. The object of his interests was this time Spitsbergen. Lacking funds, Isaksen turned to Monaco Prince Albert I for help and, having received the necessary financial support, organized an expedition that had worked in Svalbard during 1906-1907. 
The excellent scientific results obtained by this expedition provided Isaksen with the Norwegian funds for organizing a new large expedition to Svalbard, which included 40 people. According to the results of scientific research in 1909–1910. Isaksen has released a major three-volume edition. Subsequently, Isaksen visited Svalbard twice more in 1920 and 1921. 
In 1924, Isaksen led the expedition on the ship “Quest”, which was engaged in the search for the schooner “Annie I” missing in 1923 in the Greenland Sea. During this voyage, much of the east coast of Greenland was explored. 
In subsequent years, Isaksen turned his attention to the southern polar sector. In 1926–1927 on the whaling ship he sailed in the Ross Sea, but the top of his Antarctic activity was the leadership of the expedition of 1931 on the ship Norway. It was the fourth voyage of "Norway", a small wooden fishing vessel with a displacement of 285 tons, in Antarctic waters. From October 17, 1930 to January 29, 1931, i.e. in 102 days, Norway traveled 12,000 nautical miles, circling the Antarctic continent. At the same time, it was necessary to replenish coal stocks from whaling bases three times. During the voyage, some doubtful islands were erased from the map, the famous pilot Riiser-Larsen made four flights and put on the map a part of the coastline of the land called Princess Land of Rangkhilda, 54 oceanographic stations were taken, bathymetry and sea currents were studied, whale observations were conducted. For conducting this expedition, the American Geographical Society awarded Isaksen with the Charles Delhi Medal. 
Isaksen was a globally recognized authority in the field of navigation, especially in the polar zones. Since 1923, he headed the Norwegian Maritime Museum. 
Peru Isaksen owns a large number of scientific publications on the cartography of the polar regions, as well as several popular science publications on Spitsbergen, the Antarctic whaling industry, and sailing on Norway. 
He died of a heart attack on his farm in Asker, Norway. 
Island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Opened and named the expedition of O. Sverdrup on the "Fram" in 1898-1902. 
Peninsula in the north of the island of Ellef Ringnes. Opened and named the expedition of O. Sverdrup on the "Fram" in 1898-1902. 
Cape in the north  Ellef Ringnes Island. Opened and named by the expedition of O. Sverdrup on the "Fram" in 1898-1902. 
Station, river and mountain on the island of Ellef Ringnes in the Canadian Arctic archipelago.

Cape (Isaacsen) on the eastern shore of Victoria Island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Discovered and named in 1905 during a boat trip, Lieutenant G. Hansen, a member of the expedition of R. Amundsen on the "Joa". 
Plateau in the northwestern part of the island of Western Spitsbergen.

Mountain on the island of King Charles, Svalbard. The coordinates are 78° 27.1'N   11º 28.5'E.