The Drake Passage is the body of water between South America’s Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica and is known as the “roughest sea in the world”
The world’s “roughest sea” is notorious for its massive waves – prompting cruise ships to steer clear of the area.
Located between South America’s Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica, the Drake Passage connects the southwestern Atlantic Ocean with the southeastern Pacific Ocean, extending into the Southern Ocean.
This treacherous body of water is known for its unrelenting storms, with waves reaching as high as 40 feet, earning it a reputation as “the most powerful convergence of seas”. The area has witnessed tragic incidents, including the loss of lives due to rogue waves as recently as 2022.
The Drake Passage owes its turbulent nature to the unbroken Southern Ocean, allowing winds to travel freely around the globe. While other routes around South America’s southern tip, such as the Strait of Magellan and the Beagle Channel, present challenges like narrow passages, unpredictable winds, and tidal currents, the Drake Passage is preferred by sailing ships for its vast expanse of open water.
The passage is also a haven for wildlife, including whales, dolphins and seabirds like giant petrels, albatrosses, and penguins. It is named after the 16th-century English explorer and privateer Sir Francis Drake, who navigated these waters during his raiding expedition.
After navigating the Strait of Magellan with Marigold, Elizabeth, and his flagship Golden Hind in 1578, Drake found himself in the Pacific Ocean, where a storm blew him far south. The Marigold was lost, and the Elizabeth abandoned the fleet, leaving only Drake’s Golden Hind to enter the passage, reports the Express.
This event proved to the English that there was open water south of South America. However, due to Drake’s history as a slave trader, some prefer to refer to it as Mar de Hoces, named after Spanish sailor Francisco de Hoces who reached the passage 50 years before Drake.
