Vasco Núñez de Balboa

Vasco Núñez de Balboa was a Spanish explorer and conquistador in the early 16th century. He is best known for crossing the Isthmus of Panama in 1513 and becoming the first European to view the Pacific Ocean from the New World, which he then called the "South Sea." His exploration opened new routes for future expeditions and contributed to Spain's efforts to expand its empire in the Americas. Balboa's discoveries significantly impacted navigation, commerce, and the European understanding of the geography of Central America.