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Today in History: Juan Fernández discovers archipelago off Chile coast

11/22/2025

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Summary

Story summary

On November 22, 1574, Spanish explorer Juan Fernández discovered an archipelago off the coast of Chile, now known as the Juan Fernández Islands. This group consists of three main volcanic islands: Robinson Crusoe, Alejandro Selkirk, and Santa Clara. The islands, located 670 km from the mainland, rely on tourism and fishing for their economy.

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Story summary

On November 22, 1574, Spanish explorer Juan Fernández discovered an archipelago off the coast of Chile, now known as the Juan Fernández Islands. This group consists of three main volcanic islands: Robinson Crusoe, Alejandro Selkirk, and Santa Clara. The islands, located 670 km from the mainland, rely on tourism and fishing for their economy.