"I found that part of it towards San Salvador extending from north to south five leagues, and the other side which we coasted along, ran from east to west more than ten leagues"
- Christopher Columbus
About this Quote
Christopher Columbus was referring to the island of Hispaniola, which is now divided into Haiti and the Dominican Republic. He was describing the island's shape, keeping in mind that the part of the island he was exploring extended from north to south for 5 leagues, and the opposite he was drifting along extended from east to west for more than ten leagues. This quote is considerable because it shows that Columbus had the ability to accurately measure the size of the island, and it likewise reveals that he had the ability to properly map the island's shape. This was a crucial action in his exploration of the New World, as it permitted him to much better comprehend the location of the location. Columbus' expedition of the New World was a significant milestone in the history of exploration, and this quote is a tip of the importance of his work.
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