What is the name of the strait at the southern tip of South America connecting the Atlantic and Pacific?

The Strait of Magellan is the sea passage at South America’s southern tip that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

The navigable strait winds through southern Chile, separating the South American mainland from the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. Its sheltered channels offered ships a route between the oceans without rounding Cape Horn, although strong winds, narrow passages, currents, and difficult weather made navigation challenging.

A Spanish expedition led by Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan reached and crossed the passage in 1520. Magellan originally called it the Strait of All Saints, but the Spanish crown later renamed it in his honor. The crossing took the expedition 38 days.

The Strait of Magellan is often confused with the Drake Passage and the Beagle Channel. The Drake Passage is the open ocean route south of Cape Horn, while the Beagle Channel is a separate waterway through Tierra del Fuego. The Panama Canal is much farther north and is an artificial interoceanic route.