Sebastián de Ocampo facts for kids

Sebastián de Ocampo was a Spanish navigator and explorer. A navigator is someone who plans and directs the route of a ship or aircraft. An explorer is someone who travels to new places to discover them. Ocampo is famous for being the first person to sail all the way around the island of Cuba in 1508.

Ocampo's Famous Voyage

In 1508, Sebastián de Ocampo began his important journey. He was given permission by the Governor of Hispaniola, which is an island in the Caribbean. Hispaniola is where the Spanish had set up one of their first colonies.

Ocampo's mission was to sail around Cuba. At that time, people weren't sure if Cuba was an island or a long piece of land connected to a continent. His voyage would help solve this mystery.

Sailing Around Cuba

Ocampo started his trip by sailing along the northern coast of Cuba. He went through an area called the Old Bahama Channel. Then, he sailed around the western tip of the island, known as Cape San Antonio.

The journey was not easy. It took Ocampo and his crew eight months to complete. They had to sail against the Gulf Stream, which is a strong ocean current. This made their journey slower and more challenging.

Confirming Cuba is an Island

Before Ocampo's trip, other Europeans had visited parts of Cuba. However, no one had sailed all the way around it. Some people even thought Cuba might be a peninsula, which is land almost surrounded by water but connected to a mainland.

When Ocampo returned to Hispaniola, he brought exciting news. His long voyage proved that Cuba was indeed an island, completely surrounded by water. This discovery was very important for making accurate maps of the Caribbean.

Later Life

Sebastián de Ocampo lived to be an old man. The exact year he passed away is not known. His circumnavigation of Cuba remains a key event in the history of exploration in the Americas.

See also

In Spanish: Sebastián de Ocampo para niños