Drake Passage facts for kids
The Drake passage is a body of water. It lies between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. To the north is Cape Horn and the South American continent, to the south are the South Shetland Islands, now part of the British Antarctic Territory. It is part of the Southern Ocean. It is named after the English privateer Sir Francis Drake, who accidentally discovered it. He never sailed the passage, because sailing the Strait of Magellan was less dangerous.
The Drake passage is also the shortest route from Antarctica to the rest of the world. The only islands in the passage are the Diego Ramirez Islands, about 60 km south of Cape Horn.
The passage is also known for very rough seas. Waves of 10 m are not uncommon here.
The passage is also good for seeing Whales, Dolphins, seabirds, and penguins.
In old books, the passage is called Drake Strait.
Images for kids
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Tourist expedition ship sailing across the Drake Passage to Antarctica
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The plot shows an yearly average (2020) of the surface current strength (from GODAS dataset), together with streamlines. Following the streamlines, it is easy to see that the current is not closed in itself but interacts with the other ocean basins (connecting them). The Drake Passage plays a major role in this mechanism.
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Rough seas are common in the Drake Passage
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Tourists watch whales in the Drake Passage
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Seabird (light-mantled sooty albatross) flying over the Drake Passage
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Humpback whales are a common sight in the Drake Passage
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Hourglass dolphins leaping in the Passage
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Drake Passage or Mar de Hoces between South America and Antarctica
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Drake Passage
See also
In Spanish: Pasaje de Drake para niños
