Santa Maria facts for kids
The Santa Maria was a famous ship that helped Christopher Columbus explore the world. It was the largest of three ships he sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in 1492. The other two ships were the Pinta and the Niña. The ship was named after Saint Mary.
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The Santa Maria and Columbus's Journey
Columbus's First Voyage
In 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail from Spain looking for a new sea route to Asia. He wanted to find a faster way to reach the rich lands of the East Indies. Instead, he landed in the Americas, which was a huge discovery for Europeans.
The Three Ships
Columbus's fleet had three ships. The Santa Maria was the biggest. It was a type of ship called a nao, which means "ship" in Spanish. It was about 58 feet (17.7 meters) long. The Pinta and Niña were smaller, faster ships called caravels.
What Happened to the Santa Maria?
On Christmas Eve in 1492, the Santa Maria ran aground off the coast of what is now Haiti. The ship was badly damaged and could not be repaired. Columbus and his crew had to abandon the ship. They used its timbers to build a fort called La Navidad. This was the first European settlement in the Americas.
