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Aug 1, 1492
Christopher Columbus
explores islands off the coast of the North American continent, not realizing he has found a new land. -
Jun 9, 1497
John Cabot
sights Newfoundland and Labrador, claiming this area for England before sailing south towards Maine and returning to England. -
May 16, 1501
Amerigo Vespucci
explores the Brazilian coast and realizes that he has found a new continent. -
Apr 8, 1513
Juan Ponce de León
finds and names Florida. Legend has it, he searches for the Fountain of Youth. -
Sep 1, 1513
Vasco Núñez de Balboa
becomes the first European to reach the Pacific Ocean -
Nov 28, 1520
Ferdinand Magellan
sails around South America into the Pacific.
