Strait of Magellan - a picturesque world of glaciers and rocks, which was opened for the first time passed from October 21 to November 28, 1520.Until then, until the Panama Canal was built, Strait has been important for world trade.Until now, he used ships that encircle most southern side of South America.Pacific and Atlantic oceans are connected at that point, but this route has become history as unpredictable and complex.In some places, the Strait of Magellan is very narrow, given the strong winds and currents passing through it may be unsafe.Nowadays one can see unusual places that have seen the early explorers.Many cruise companies of America offer to make a trip along the famous Strait and explore the beautiful coast, covered with rocks and glaciers.
Ferdinand Magellan - explorer and discoverer, was born into a noble family in 1480.He received an excellent education, was fascinated by astronomy, studied cosmography and navigation.From his youth, his dream was to open a new route to the "Spice Islands".He was the first who developed the plan of the expedition.When the Portuguese king did not approve of his intentions, he decided to enlist the support of the Spanish monarch Charles V. Thus, in 1519 Ferdinand Magellan five ships sailed from the Spanish kingdom.Navigator has never left the belief that somewhere there is a different route to Asia, West.
All Saints' Day, in November 1520, a violent storm drove the ships in the narrow strait, which was bordered by rocks and glaciers.Then another team did not even know how arduous journey ahead of her waiting.They sailed almost 600 km.the strait that Magellan was named "Strait of All Saints," and later renamed it the King of Spain in the Strait of Magellan in honor of the famous and brave navigator.
For years, the pioneer was the only captain who managed to pass the strait without loss.None of his ship is wrecked.He is also the first who crossed from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
Strait of Magellan is a long time, the shortest route and an important trade route between the west coast of America and Europe.Colonize the coastal land does not work, even though Spain is not just trying to learn the territory.Acute food shortages and severe climatic conditions leads to tragedy.Only in the 19th century colonization was successful.Strait of Magellan controlled the Chilean authorities.In 1848 there was founded the port city of Punta Arenas, which prior to the opening in 1914 of the Panama Canal is one of the most important ports in the world.
Strait lies between mainland South America and the archipelago of Tierra del Fuego.It is almost entirely located in the territorial waters of Chile, only the eastern extremity belongs to Argentina.Its length is about 570 km and the width - 2 km in narrow spaces and 20 km - in the widest.
One of the most significant events in the history of the XVI century are traveling Ferdinand Magellan.That he was able to prove that the Earth is a sphere.It was opened a passage from the Atlantic, and the Europeans for the first time managed to cross the largest ocean - the Pacific.Also during the expedition of Columbus it was refuted suggestions that occupies most of the land surface of the Earth.Magellan found out that everything is exactly the opposite.He left a great mark on history, his heroism imitated and admired.All entries in the journey led A. Pigafetta, who participated in the expedition as a volunteer.His historical notes are characterized by precision and accompanied by a statement of special explanations.
