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Who were the first Europeans to sight and cross the Pacific Ocean?
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Vasco NĂșñez de Balboa was the first European to sight the Pacific Ocean, which he discovered in 1513 after crossing the isthmus of Panama.12
Seven years later, in 1520, Ferdinand Magellan became the first European to sail across the Pacific Ocean. After discovering the Strait of Magellan at the southern tip of South America, he led his fleet into the ocean, which he named "Pacific" due to its calm waters. Although Magellan was killed in the Philippines during the expedition, his remaining crew continued the voyage, ultimately completing the first circumnavigation of the Earth.134