During his first voyage in 1770, Captain James Cook and his crew aboard HMS Endeavour encountered the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of what is now Queensland, Australia. On June 11, 1770, the ship struck a coral outcrop known as the Endeavour Reef, causing damage to the vessel's hull. This incident occurred near the present-day location of Cooktown.
To prevent the ship from sinking, Cook and his crew made temporary repairs by careening the ship (tilting it on its side) in a nearby river while they made further repairs. This allowed them to remove the damaged portion of the ship's structure and patch it up.
Following the incident, Cook and his crew continued their exploration of the east coast of Australia, mapping and charting the coastline. Cook named the area "The Barrier Reef" due to the navigational challenges and hazards it posed to ships.
Although the Endeavour's encounter with the Great Barrier Reef was a significant event during Cook's voyages, it's important to note that Cook himself did not personally run aground on the reef. The ship struck a coral outcrop, and the crew took necessary measures to address the damage and continue their exploration.
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