circumnavigations

Circumnavigation is the act or process of traveling all the way around an object or region, typically returning to the starting point. The most common reference is to traveling around the Earth, though the term can also describe a circuit around a peninsula, island group, continent, or any central body. The word derives from Latin circumnavigāre, meaning “to sail around.” Circumnavigation can occur by sea, air, space, or land, and can be undertaken as exploration, sport, or transportation.

Historically, the longest and most influential circumnavigations were maritime. The first widely accepted global circumnavigation was the Magellan expedition (1519–1522), led by Ferdinand Magellan and completed after his death by Elcano, which demonstrated the feasibility of traveling around the world by sea. The voyage established a lasting model for global navigation and long-distance seamanship. The first circumnavigation by a single person was completed by Joshua Slocum in 1895–1898 aboard the Spray, marking a landmark achievement in solo exploration. In English navigation history, Francis Drake’s voyage (1577–1580) is commonly cited as the first English circumnavigation, building on the Magellan route and influencing future expeditions.

In modern times, circumnavigations have been accomplished by air and space as well as by ships, including speed-record attempts and scientific missions. Air and space circumnavigation have expanded the concept beyond oceans to continuous circuits around the planet, while sailing circumnavigations continue in races and exploration ventures. The term remains a standard way to describe a complete circuit returning to the origin.