<P> Until the Panama Canal opened in 1914 , the Strait of Magellan was the main route for steamships traveling from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific . It was often considered the only safe way to move between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans , as the Drake Passage separating Cape Horn ( the southern tip of South America ) from Antarctica is notorious for turbulent and unpredictable weather , and is frequented by icebergs and sea ice . Ships in the strait , protected by Tierra del Fuego to the south and the coast of continental South America to the north crossed with relative ease , and Punta Arenas became a primary refueling port providing coal for steam ships in transit . Sailing ships , however , partly because of variable winds and currents in the strait , generally preferred the Drake Passage , as they had more room to maneuver there . </P>
<P> Until the Panama Canal opened in 1914 , the Strait of Magellan was the main route for steamships traveling from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific . It was often considered the only safe way to move between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans , as the Drake Passage separating Cape Horn ( the southern tip of South America ) from Antarctica is notorious for turbulent and unpredictable weather , and is frequented by icebergs and sea ice . Ships in the strait , protected by Tierra del Fuego to the south and the coast of continental South America to the north crossed with relative ease , and Punta Arenas became a primary refueling port providing coal for steam ships in transit . Sailing ships , however , partly because of variable winds and currents in the strait , generally preferred the Drake Passage , as they had more room to maneuver there . </P>
what is the tip of south america called
what is the tip of south america called
Cape Horn
Cape Horn