It’s one of the most awe-inspiring passages in the world’s oceans – but with the wrong weather, it can be one of the most dangerous.
In calm conditions, it’s known as the ‘Drake Lake’, with smooth, glassy waters as far as the eye can see. But when it’s rough, it’s known as the ‘Drake Shake’ – for reasons that will quickly become obvious to those who attempt the crossing.
Drake’s Passage is a 600 mile-wide body of water that researchers, explorers and tourists heading to Antarctica must cross. It separates Cape Horn, in Chile, from Antarctica’s South Shetland Islands.
The passage gets its English name from the privateer Sir Francis Drake, whose flagship Golden Hind was blown down south to the passage in 1578. This proved, to the English at least, that there was open water south of South America.
But he wasn’t the first person to discover the passage – that honour goes to the Spanish navigator Francisco de Hoces. To others, the passage is known as the Sea of Hoces (which translates to Mar de Hoces). His ship was also blown down south, away from the Strait of Magellan. He and his ship and crew disappeared, and it’s not known where they ended up.
How high can the waves get?
In rough conditions, it’s thought to be one of the most treacherous voyages for ships. During storms and high winds, the waves can become incredibly high. It’s been reported that waves can reach up to 15 or even 20 metres (49-65 feet). A video from the British Antarctic Survey, taken from the research vessel RRS Sir David Attenborough, states that they can sail through wave heights of 12 metres.
Why can it be so dangerous?
There are several factors that can result in an unsteady crossing. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which is the world’s strongest ocean current, flows around the continent in a large loop.
This current helps generate hurricane-force winds, which only speed up as they don’t encounter any nearby landmass. This current gets squeezed at the narrowest point between the tip of South America and the Antarctic Peninsula – which is where Drake’s Passage lies.
The Antarctic Circumpolar Current also connects the vast current systems of the Atlantic, Pacific and Southern Oceans.
How long does it take to cross?
Nowadays, crossing Drake Passage takes two days in a motorised boat. In 2019, a team of six people rowed across the Passage, taking 12 days, 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete the journey. One of the rowers wrote of the experience: "The first onset of delirium due to exhaustion and sleep deprivation typical to ocean rowing is often experienced as hallucinating the sound of barking dogs."
What wildlife is found in Drake’s Passage?
Drake’s Passage is rich in plankton, particularly krill, making it an important habitat for blue and fin whales, emperor penguins, squid and crabeater seals. Plenty of seabirds can be found there, such as species of petrel and albatross, as well as sooty shearwaters.
