12th October, 1492 Columbus discovered America

On the 12th of October, 1492, having reached the island of San Salvador, Christopher Columbus landed in the Bahamas archipelago. Christopher Columbus made four expeditions to the New World, equipped by the Spanish Catholic Monarchs in the hope of opening a shorter western route for trade with India.

The first expedition of Christopher Columbus (1492-1493) composed of 91 people on the ships "Santa Maria", "Pinta", "Nina" came out from Pálosa de la Frontera on August 3, 1492. From the Canary Islands turned to the West, crossed the Atlantic ocean in the subtropical zone and on the 12th of October landed on the Bahamas archipelago. 14-24 October, Christopher Columbus visited a number of other Bahamian islands, and from 28th October to 5th December discovered and explored portion of the northeastern coast of Cuba. On the 6th of December Columbus reached Haiti and moved along its northern shore. On the night of December 25, the flagship of the "Santa Maria" sat on the reef, but sailors survived. Columbus on the ship the "Niña" during 4-16th January, 1493 completed the survey of the northern coast of Haiti and on the 15th of March returned to Castile.

Discovery of America - the event which brought the inhabitants of the Old World knowledge about the new part of the world - America, consisting of two continents.

Columbus Day - a holiday in honor of the anniversary of Columbus' arrival in America. In Spain, 12 October is the day of the holiday and is called "The Day of Hispanidad." While most other countries of the America celebrate Columbus Day on 12 October, in the United States it is celebrated on the second Monday of October.