South American exploration began in earnest in 1499. Among the explorers who lost ships were Amerigo Vespucci, the famous Italian map maker that gave the Americas his name, and Ferdinand Magellan, who led the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe. At least 6 ships were lost between 1503 and 1520:
- 4 ships of Gonçalo Coelho and Amerigo Vespucci (1503)
- ship of Juan Diaz de Solis (1516)
- ship of Ferdinand Magellan (1520)
