Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition used the Strait of Magellan to pass from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
The strait cuts through the southern tip of mainland South America, separating the continent from Tierra del Fuego and nearby islands. It is a complex waterway with narrow passages, islands, strong currents, and difficult weather.
Magellan’s fleet entered the strait in October 1520 during its westward voyage. After navigating it, the expedition reached the ocean Magellan named Mar Pacifico, or “peaceful sea.” The expedition later completed the first circumnavigation of Earth, although Magellan himself died in the Philippines before the voyage ended.
The strait was an important sailing route before the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914. It remains a navigable alternative for ships, while the nearby Drake Passage is an open-ocean route south of Cape Horn rather than an enclosed strait.