Strait of Magellan

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/strait-of-magellan

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How long is the Strait of Magellan?Approximately 570 km (350 mi)
2. How wide is the Strait of Magellan?Approximately 2 km (1.2 mi)
3. What is the location?Southern Chile, South America, separating mainland from Tierra del Fuego
4. What is the first european expedition?Ferdinand Magellan's expedition in 1520
5. Why was the Strait of Magellan important for explorers?It gave a shorter and safer route between the oceans, cutting travel time and danger compared to sailing around Cape Horn.
6. Who discovered the Strait of Magellan?Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese navigator, first charted it in 1520 during a Spanish expedition.

Archipelago: A chain, cluster, or collection of islands.
Circumnavigation: The act of sailing or traveling all the way around something, especially the world.
Maritime Piloting: The practice of guiding ships through specific waterways, often requiring specialized local knowledge.
Oceanographic: Relating to the scientific study of the oceans.