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Columbus sights land in the Caribbean

Oct 12, 1492

Landfall in the Bahamas

Confirmed Exploration · Verified 2026-10-31 · WWV-HS-TD-004

After about five weeks crossing the Atlantic, Christopher Columbus's ships reached an island in the Bahamas that the local Lucayan people called Guanahani. The voyage began lasting contact between Europe and the Americas.

The exact island is debated. The date follows the Julian calendar used at the time.

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