Author: Jean-François Pernette
Bio: Biography:

Jean-François Pernette is a French speleologist, explorer, writer and photographer. He was born September 2, 1954 in ORAN (Algeria).

At the age of 13, he starts exploring caves near his home in Bordeaux and then larger caverns in the Pyrenees.
In 1973, at the age of 19, he discovers an unknown underground river on the Spanish side of the famous Pierre-Saint-Martin karst.
 
Later on, Jean-François Pernette leads several speleological expeditions, including the first French national expeditions to Papua New Guinea (1980) and Western Patagonia (Chile 2000).

Publications:

 « L’Abîme sous la jungle » Ed Aventures extraordinaires/J.Glénat 1981
 « A la découverte des gouffres de la Pierre-Saint-Martin » Ed Marrimpouey 1982
 « Rivières sous la pierre » Préface d’Haroun Tazieff Ed Fernand Nathan 1983
 « Grottes et cavernes » Ed A2/Sélection du Reader’s digest 1984 (coll.)
 « Spéléo Sportive à la Pierre-Saint-Martin » Ed Edisud 1985 (coll.)
 « Les canyons du Pays basque » Ed Profils et Couleurs 1986 (coll.)
 " L'île aux glaciers de marbre" Ed Centre Terre 2012 (coll)
 " The modern explorers" Ed Thames and Hudson 2013 (coll)

Distinctions:

 1998: Winner of the Rolex Awards for Enterprise for the project 
 «Ultima Patagonia caving expedition».
 1999: Grantee of the National Geographic Society for the project 
 "Ultima Patagonia 2000".
 2010: Honorary President of the Centre Terre Association

External links:

 http://www.rolexawards.com/profiles/laureates/Jean-franois_pernette
 http://www.NGM.nationalgeographic.com/features/World/South-America/Chile/Ultima-text
 http://www.centre-terre.fr
 http://www.s391384129.onlinehome.fr/arsip/
 http://ffspeleo.fr
 http://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=T4WLIx7SOZc