21 October - Explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his fleet reach Cape Virgenes

 

On 21 October 1520, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his fleet reached Cape Virgenes at the end of the Strait of Magellan, successfully navigating the narrow and treacherous passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This moment marked the first time European explorers sailed from the Atlantic into the Pacific, a major achievement in global navigation. Magellan’s fleet, part of a Spanish expedition to find a westward route to the Spice Islands (now part of Indonesia), had endured months of hardships, including harsh weather, supply shortages, and even mutiny, as they searched for a route through South America.

The discovery of the strait, now named after Magellan, provided an essential link for future trade routes, although it was long and perilous to navigate. Magellan named the new ocean “Mar Pacífico” or "Peaceful Sea," due to its calm waters compared to the turbulent conditions his fleet had faced in the Atlantic. This historic passage was a key step in the first successful circumnavigation of the Earth, proving that the world’s oceans were interconnected and dramatically expanding the scope of European exploration and trade.