Magellan Strait

In 1520, the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan made several major geographical discoveries at once. The first and most important of them was the discovery of a 575-kilometer strait between islands off the southern tip of South America and the mainland itself. The search for the strait took a considerable amount of time: Magellan studied more than two thousand kilometers of coastline, looking for the coveted sea corridor among endless bays and inlets. Before “wintering over,” Magellan took the mouth of the Río de la Plata for the strait, but soon realized he was mistaken.

Only after several months did Magellan’s fleet finally reach the narrow strait leading deep into the mainland. The ships passed through it in 38 days, and the Portuguese explorer did not lose a single vessel during this difficult journey. After exploring the strait, Magellan also discovered the Tierra del Fuego archipelago and named the ocean in which he found himself-the Pacific (the voyage took place in good weather).

It is believed that the best views of the Magellan Strait can be seen from the Chilean city of Punta Arenas. There, you can also board a ferry and head to the other side of the strait-to the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, to the village of Porvenir. Or you can choose to travel in the “spirit of Magellan,” buy a ticket on a cruise ship, and, after passing through the strait, set a course for Cape Horn.