The Drake Passage is a deep, roughly 600-mile-wide waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It lies between the southern tip of South America at Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands near the Antarctic Peninsula. The passage separates the subpolar region of Tierra del Fuego from the polar region of Antarctica and is known for its stormy seas and strong currents. It is also the narrowest crossing from Antarctica to any other landmass and plays a critical role in oceanic circulation around Antarctica.