Magellan << muh JEHL uhn >>, Strait of, is a narrow, stormy waterway that separates the islands of Tierra del Fuego from the mainland of South America. The Strait of Magellan is almost at the southern tip of the continent. In 1520, Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer, led the first European expedition through the strait during the first voyage around the world. Magellan was sailing for Spain.
The Strait of Magellan is 350 miles (563 kilometers) long and varies from 2 to 20 miles (3 to 32 kilometers) in width. Before the Panama Canal opened, the strait and Cape Horn were the shortest water routes from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
