Who discovered the island of Tierra del Fuego?

Ferdinand Magellan is credited with discovering Tierra del Fuego for Europeans in 1520. His expedition, sailing for the Spanish Crown, reached the region while searching for a passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

From the ships, Magellan’s crew saw numerous fires burning along the southern shores. These were made by Indigenous peoples living in the region, and the sight inspired the name Tierra del Fuego, meaning “Land of Fire.” Magellan’s expedition also entered the nearby strait now known as the Strait of Magellan on November 1, 1520.

The word “discovered” needs historical context: Indigenous peoples had inhabited Tierra del Fuego for thousands of years before Europeans arrived. Magellan was the first European explorer known to visit and chart the area, making his name the standard answer in general-knowledge quizzes.

A related common mix-up is that Magellan did not complete the first circumnavigation himself; he died in the Philippines in 1521. His expedition was completed under Juan Sebastián Elcano in 1522.