Question 1

True or false: The Drake Passage is known for having the calmest waters in the Southern Ocean.

Accepted Answer

False. It’s infamous for violent storms and massive waves, often called the most treacherous ship route on Earth.

Question 2

True or false: The Drake Passage is less than 500 miles wide at its narrowest point.

Accepted Answer

True. It squeezes to about 500 miles (800 km) between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands.

Question 3

True or false: The Drake Passage connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans between South America and Antarctica.

Accepted Answer

True. It’s the narrowest stretch of ocean between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands, linking the two oceans.

Question 4

True or false: The Drake Passage is home to the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, the strongest ocean current on Earth.

Accepted Answer

True. This current flows unimpeded around Antarctica, carrying more water than any other current globally.

Question 5

True or false: The Drake Passage is named after the English privateer Sir Francis Drake.

Accepted Answer

False. Despite the name, Drake never sailed it; it was named centuries later to honor his exploration of the region.

Question 6

True or false: The Drake Passage was first crossed by Ferdinand Magellan in 1520.

Accepted Answer

False. Magellan sailed through the strait bearing his name, far north; the Drake Passage was first crossed by Dutch navigator Willem Schouten in 1616.

Question 7

True or false: The Drake Passage is a key feeding ground for the critically endangered blue whale.

Accepted Answer

True. Its nutrient-rich waters support krill blooms, attracting blue whales during their summer feeding season.

Question 8

True or false: No human has ever crossed the Drake Passage in a kayak.

Accepted Answer

False. Several adventurers have kayaked it, including a solo crossing by American Colin O’Brady in 2019.

Drake Passage Trivia Questions