Map of South America and the Strait of Magellan

This map shows the southern part of South America from Rio de la Plata in the east and Coquimbo in the west. The southern-most point depicted is the Strait of Magellan (“Fretum Magellanicum”) and the known lands of Tierra del Fuego. At the time it was not known that Tierra del Fuego was an archipelago of islands and that a more southern passage existed. The continent appears to be shown in a condensed way, with much of the land between the west coast and east coast missing, while the bay visited by the Dutch ships are depicted much larger than they are in reality. The Dutch ships are displayed at Porto Desire, where the map also notes an island where the fleet stopped to hunt for penguins. A depiction of the bird is included at the southern edge of the Argentinian mainland and in the Strait of Magellan more penguin islands are noted.

In the Strait of Magellan a number of capes and bays are noted, which was information that could be valuable for navigators passing through the Strait in the future. On the left side of the map, we see the Dutch ships sailing along the Chilean coast towards the islands of Mocha and St. Maria. The map extensively lists Spanish settlements on the Chilean coast.

The text on the bottom right says that the map depicts the Strait of Magellan, through which Olivier van Noort sailed from November 1599 until arriving in the Pacific Ocean in February 1600. The scales are given in German and Spanish units.