Strait of Magellan
Navigable sea route in southern Chile, key passage between Atlantic and Pacific.
The Strait of Magellan is a sea passage in southern Chile that separates the South American mainland from the Tierra del Fuego islands to the south. It is considered the most significant natural waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The strait runs about 570 kilometers in length and narrows to just 2 kilometers at its tightest point. The name dates back to 1520, when the Spanish expedition led by the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan became the first Europeans to reach the area. Magellan originally called it the Estrecho de Todos los Santos, or "Strait of All Saints." However, the King of Spain, Emperor Charles V—who had sponsored the Magellan-Elcano voyage—later renamed it in Magellan's honor.
Navigating the strait is challenging due to frequent narrows and unpredictable winds and currents, so maritime piloting is now mandatory. It offers a shorter and more sheltered route than the Drake Passage around Cape Horn, which often experiences gale-force winds and icebergs. Along with the Beagle Channel, the strait was one of the few sea routes between the Atlantic and Pacific before the Panama Canal was built.
Quick Facts
- Length
- 570 km
- Min Width
- 2 km
- Location
- Magallanes Region, Chile
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The route is difficult to navigate due to frequent narrows and unpredictable winds and currents. Maritime piloting is now compulsory. The strait is shorter and more sheltered than the Drake Passage (the open sea route around Cape Horn), which is beset by frequent gale-force winds and icebergs. Along with the Beagle Channel, the strait was one of the few sea routes between the Atlantic and Pacific before the construction of the Panama Canal.
Reader's Guide
Indigenous navigation: Land adjacent to the Strait of Magellan has been inhabited by indigenous Americans for at least 13,000 years. Historically identifiable indigenous ethnic groups around the strait are the Kawésqar, the Tehuelche, the Selkʼnam and the Yaghan people. All tribes in the area were nomadic hunter-gatherers. Magellan: The first European contact in this area was the voyage of Ferdinand Magellan. His ships became the first to navigate the strait in 1520. Magellan's ships entered the strait on All Saints' Day, 1 November 1520. Magellan named the Strait Estrecho de Todos los Santos ("Strait of All Saints") and planted a flag to claim the land on behalf of the King of Spain. Within seven years, it was being called Estrecho de Magallanes in honor of Magellan.
Did You Know?
- The strait is approximately 570 km long and 2 km wide at its narrowest point.
- Magellan's original name for the strait was Estrecho de Todos los Santos ("Strait of All Saints").
- The King of Spain, Emperor Charles V, changed the name to the Strait of Magellan in honor of Magellan.
More in Straits And Channels 1-24
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