Pacific Ocean Day

What Is Pacific Ocean Day?

November 28th is "Pacific Ocean Day" (Taiheiyo Kinenbi) in Japan. It marks November 28, 1520, when the fleet of Portuguese-born navigator Ferdinand Magellan passed through a strait at the southern tip of South America -- later named the Strait of Magellan -- and entered the Pacific Ocean for the first time.

An Ocean Named "Peaceful"

During their voyage to sail around the world, Magellan's fleet made its way through a winding strait into a vast ocean. Because the waters they met were calm, Magellan is said to have described it as the "peaceful sea" (El Mare Pacificum). This is the origin of the name "Pacific Ocean" in English and "Taiheiyo" in Japanese.

• Origin of the date: Magellan's fleet passed through the strait into the Pacific on November 28, 1520
• Strait of Magellan: A strait at the southern tip of South America, later named after Magellan
• Origin of the name: Called the "peaceful sea" because its waters were calm
• Around the world: Magellan died in the Philippines during the voyage, but a ship from his fleet completed the circumnavigation

What Magellan's Voyage Showed

The voyage of Magellan's fleet is known as the first circumnavigation of the globe. Magellan himself was killed in a battle in the Philippines, but the surviving ship continued and returned home. The voyage showed in practice that sailing continuously west brings you back to where you started -- that the Earth is round.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Trace Magellan's route on a world map or globe
• Read about the countries and islands facing the Pacific
• Enjoy stories of explorers from the Age of Discovery
• Head to the coast and look out over the Pacific

Beyond the Rough Waters, a Calm Sea

The name "Pacific" may carry the relief of sailors who made it through a treacherous strait. November 28th is a day to think about the vast ocean and the adventures of the Age of Discovery.