Balboa (Vasco Núñez de Balboa)

Vasco Núñez de Balboa was a Spanish explorer in the early 1500s, famous for crossing the Isthmus of Panama in 1513. This journey allowed him to see the Pacific Ocean for the first time from the New World, earning him recognition as the first European to do so. His exploration expanded Europeans’ understanding of the Americas and opened the way for further expeditions into the Pacific and other regions. Balboa’s efforts played a significant role in Spain's efforts to explore and claim territories in Central and South America.