The Norwegian Nobel Committee on Tuesday announced that it has received valid nominations of 241 different individuals and organizations for the Nobel Peace Prize for 2011. This is the highest number of nominations ever received. The previous record was 237 different candidates, in 2010, the committee said in a statement.

Although not all names are out, few names have emerged. Whistleblower website WikiLeaks, Internet are among those in the run for the world's top accolade. According to Reuters, the other known nominees include Afghan rights advocate Sima

Samar, the European Union, former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, Cuban dissident Oswaldo Paya Sardinas, Russian rights group Memorial and its founder Svetlana Gannushkina.

Start the slideshow to get acquainted with the Nobel nominees: