As the Drake Passage is the narrowest passage (choke point) around Antarctica, its existence and shape strongly influence the circulation of water around Antarctica and the global oceanic circulation, as well as the global climate.

In 1525, Spanish explorer Francisco de Hoces discovered the Drake Passage (the ocean between the southern tip of South America and Antarctica). As an interesting aside, in 1494 Spain and Portgual signed a treaty dividing the entire world between them.

Feb 28, 2024 · Measuring roughly 800 kilometers wide (500 miles) and 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) long, the Drake Passage is the shortest distance from the Antarctic continent to any other landmass. Its...

The history of Antarctica emerges from early Western theories of a vast continent, known as Terra Australis, believed to exist in the far south of the globe. The term Antarctic, referring to the opposite of the Arctic Circle, was coined by Marinus of Tyre in the 2nd century AD.

The Battle of Pavia, fought on the morning of 24 February 1525, was the decisive engagement of the Italian War of 1521–1526 between the Kingdom of France and the Habsburg Empire of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor as well as ruler of Spain, Austria, the …

Jul 8, 2024 · In this article, we’ll explore some of the history of Antarctica from that standpoint of discovery, emphasizing the early chapters of its exploration and the epic adventures—both scientific and recreational—which still go down here every year. What follows is a general overview of Antarctic exploration, followed by an Antarctic expedition timeline.

Jan 23, 2025 · European explorers first approached Antarctica in 1520, when Portuguese navigator and explorer Ferdinand Magellan rounded South America during his journey to circumnavigate the world.

Jul 23, 2020 · With the presence of Antarctica firmly established, the stage was set for the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration from the late 19th century to 1917. During this time, some 17 major expeditions were launched.

Dec 19, 2024 · While many famous Antarctic explorers made history and contributed to the human knowledge of Antarctica, we’re highlighting five key figures in the early Antarctica exploration era who made an especially profound impact on how we travel to Antarctica today.

Other authorities place the first sighting of mainland Antarctica as late as 27 January 1820 by an expedition of the Imperial Russian Navy led by Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen. Open ocean south of South America was reported by the Spanish navigator Francisco de Hoces in 1525 [16] and by Sir Francis Drake in 1578. [17]