# Ponce de León and the Pacific. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 27, 2017, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ponce-de-leon-and-the-pacific/802891 "2017-11-27T20:36:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ponce-de-leon-and-the-pacific/802891/1 "2017-11-27T20:36:29Z")
Here on this wiki page, it sez “The first historical records of Europeans to set eyes on this ocean, the Pacific, are recorded as Vasco Núñez de Balboa in 1513 or, Ponce de León in 1512 or 1513.” > **[Waldseemüller map](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waldseem%C3%BCller_map)** > > The Waldseemüller map or Universalis Cosmographia ("Universal Cosmography") is a printed wall map of the world by German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller, originally published in April 1507. It is known as the first map to use the name "America". The name America is placed on South America on the main map. As explained in Cosmographiae Introductio, the name was bestowed in honor of the Italian Amerigo Vespucci. > The map is drafted on a modification of Ptolemy's second projection, expanded to a... Where and when did old Poncy get to the Pacific? ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ponce-de-leon-and-the-pacific/802891/2 "2017-11-28T00:50:35Z")
Considering that old Poncy went to Florida in 1512, I’d say this was an error by whoever wrote that. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ponce-de-leon-and-the-pacific/802891/3 "2017-11-28T01:32:06Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Considering that old Poncy went to Florida in 1512, I’d say this was an error by whoever wrote that. Yes, but I was unsure and unwilling to edit unless I was sure. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ponce-de-leon-and-the-pacific/802891/4 "2017-11-28T01:58:44Z")
But what if Ponce stood way, way up on the highest point in Florida, AND it was one of those really, really clear days, AND he had his Cuban heels on? ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ponce-de-leon-and-the-pacific/802891/5 "2017-11-28T02:09:14Z")
Yeah I think they confused him with [Vasco Núñez de Balboa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasco_N%C3%BA%C3%B1ez_de_Balboa). It has a “de” in it after all 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ponce-de-leon-and-the-pacific/802891/6 "2017-11-28T02:45:31Z")
Of course, even the greats mess up. Poet John Keats gave the credit to “Stout Cortes” rather than to Balboa. ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ponce-de-leon-and-the-pacific/802891/7 "2017-11-28T02:46:26Z")
If it’s an error (and I concur that it probably is), it’s a remarkably long-lived one, having been [introduced to the article in 2006.](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Waldseem%C3%BCller_map&diff=prev&oldid=52793656) ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ponce-de-leon-and-the-pacific/802891/8 "2017-11-28T03:23:22Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yes, but I was unsure and unwilling to edit unless I was sure. Hey, be bold. That’s what some file (I forget which one) on Wikipedia says. This could be someone’s bizarre alt-hist theory. If so, it doesn’t belong in Wikipedia. Or maybe the writer thought Florida was on the west coast. Ponce did sail around to the west side of the peninsula. > [@Banksiaman](#): > > But what if Ponce stood way, way up on the highest point in Florida, AND it was one of those really, really clear days, AND he had his Cuban heels on? Yeah, but the highest place in Florida is like 5 meters above sea level. He’d get more altitude in the crow’s nest on his ship. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ponce-de-leon-and-the-pacific/802891/9 "2017-11-28T05:49:41Z")
Whoosh, much? ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ponce-de-leon-and-the-pacific/802891/10 "2017-11-28T09:11:44Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > Whoosh, much? I assume that was aimed at me. I knew he was joking; I was kind of joking back. Admittedly, I couldn’t find something very funny to say, but … the highest point in Florida is much higher than 5 meters. In fact it should soon be over [300 meters](http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/race-to-build-miamis-tallest-building-heats-up-as-tibor-hollo-plans-1-044-foot-tower-8155394)… ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ponce-de-leon-and-the-pacific/802891/11 "2017-11-28T15:10:31Z")
OTOH, with sea level such a moving target, that 300 meters will soon be 299, 298, 297, etc. Just like on the _Titanic_, the first class passengers / penthouse dwellers will be the last to get their feet wet. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ponce-de-leon-and-the-pacific/802891/12 "2017-11-28T22:11:51Z")
Is it possible he visited Panama and crossed the entire ithsmus? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ponce-de-leon-and-the-pacific/802891/13 "2017-11-28T22:38:08Z")
If someone here regularlly edit wiki, feel free to change it, otherwise I will do it later, Then, it will be edited back, I am sure. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ponce-de-leon-and-the-pacific/802891/14 "2017-11-28T23:18:20Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Is it possible he visited Panama and crossed the entire ithsmus? I am something of an expert on the history of Panama, and I have never heard that Ponce de Leon ever visited Panama, nor that anyone other than Balboa was credited with the first crossing. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ponce-de-leon-and-the-pacific/802891/15 "2017-11-28T23:19:33Z")
[The cite in that section of the wiki](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-map/map-that-named-america-is-a-puzzle-for-researchers-idUSN0332239320071203?sp=true)notes that there are a lot of questions about the Waldseemüller map that is the subject of the article. It doesn’t mention Ponce of Leon though.