Strait of Magellan

By Deane Barker • •

This is channel through the bottom tip of South America. It’s between the mainland and the island of Terra Del Feugo.

In addition to being shorter, it’s considerably safer because it avoids the perilous journey around Cape Horn, which is known for bad weather and icebergs.

It was named for Ferdinand Magellan who was the first European to document it in 1520.

Why I Looked It Up

It was a plot point in Shogun (set in 1600). The main character was the first one to bring knowledge of the strait to Japan. The book starts just after he has navigated the strait and is sailing north in the Pacific.

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