Which of Christopher Columbus’s ships ran aground during his maiden voyage and had to be abandoned?
The Niña
The Pinta
The Santa Maria
Christopher Columbus embarked on his inaugural voyage with three ships: the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. On Christmas Day in 1492, his flagship ship, the Santa Maria, ran aground off the northern coast of the island of Hispaniola and had to be abandoned. Columbus directed his crew to strip timbers from the ship to build a fort, leaving nearly 40 sailors behind while he returned to Spain with the Niña and Pinta. Upon his return to the settlement in 1493, the fort, known as La Navidad, was destroyed, and none of his crew were found alive.
The correct answer is The Santa Maria.