A 1606 map of America shows this archipelago as part of a Southern Continent by a canoe with smoke billowing from its center

Thursday’s Final Jeopardy category, “The Southern Hemisphere,” took contestants deep into early exploration and cartography. The clue read: “A 1606 map of America shows this archipelago as part of a Southern Continent by a canoe with smoke billowing from its center.” It pointed to a remote and windswept chain of islands at the edge of South America, long associated with early European exploration and the evolving understanding of the southernmost regions of the globe.

What is Tierra del Fuego?

The correct response was: What is Tierra del Fuego?

Tierra del Fuego is an archipelago located at the southern tip of South America, separated from the mainland by the Strait of Magellan. Today it is divided between Chile and Argentina, with the largest island known as Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego. Its name, which translates to “Land of Fire,” reflects the dramatic imagery that European explorers reported upon first contact.

The 1606 map referenced in the clue reflects a period when European cartographers were still grappling with the true geography of the Southern Hemisphere. At the time, many believed in the existence of a vast southern landmass known as Terra Australis. On some early maps, Tierra del Fuego was depicted not as a series of islands but as part of this hypothetical southern continent.

The Origins of the Name and the Image of Smoke

The imagery of a canoe with smoke billowing from its center directly ties into the origin of Tierra del Fuego’s name. When Ferdinand Magellan sailed through the strait that now bears his name in 1520, members of his expedition reportedly observed numerous fires along the coastline. These fires were likely set by the indigenous peoples of the region, including the Selk’nam and Yaghan, for warmth and communication.

European observers interpreted the sight of smoke rising from the shore and from canoes as a defining characteristic of the region. Magellan is said to have initially called the area the “Land of Smoke,” but the Spanish crown later changed it to “Land of Fire,” a name that endured. The map mentioned in the clue appears to capture that early European perception, using visual symbolism to represent both the geography and the cultural encounters of the time.

Terra Australis and Early Cartographic Assumptions

In the early 17th century, the concept of Terra Australis Incognita, a vast southern continent, was widely accepted among European scholars. Cartographers often extended known landmasses southward, connecting islands and coastal discoveries to this imagined continent. Tierra del Fuego was frequently drawn as the northern edge of that supposed landmass.

The 1606 map cited in the clue reflects this worldview. Rather than portraying Tierra del Fuego as a distinct archipelago, it situates the islands as part of a continuous southern continent. It was not until later expeditions, including those of explorers such as James Cook in the 18th century, that the true insular nature of Tierra del Fuego became more firmly established in European mapping.

A Clue Rooted in Exploration History

This Final Jeopardy clue required knowledge not only of geography but also of exploration history and early cartographic conventions. The reference to a 1606 map and to smoke billowing from a canoe provided two critical hints: the date placed the map in the age of early Spanish and Portuguese exploration, while the smoke alluded to the origin of Tierra del Fuego’s name.

By combining these elements, the clue rewarded contestants who could connect the symbolic imagery of fire and smoke with the southernmost archipelago of the Americas. In doing so, it highlighted how exploration narratives and misconceptions about a vast southern continent shaped the maps and geographical understanding of the early modern world.

On Thursday, February 12, 2026, Jeopardy! closed the game with a Final Jeopardy clue in the category “The Southern Hemisphere.” The clue read: “A 1606 map of America shows this archipelago as part of a Southern Continent by a canoe with smoke billowing from its center.” The reference to a 17th-century map, an archipelago, and visible smoke offered contestants several historical and geographic threads to consider. The correct response connected early European exploration with one of the most remote island groups on Earth.

What is Tierra del Fuego?

The correct response was: What is Tierra del Fuego?

Tierra del Fuego is an archipelago located at the southernmost tip of South America, separated from the mainland by the Strait of Magellan. Today, the islands are divided between Chile and Argentina. The name, which translates to “Land of Fire,” dates back to the early 16th century and reflects the fires observed along the coastline by European explorers.

The clue’s mention of a 1606 map aligns with a period when European cartographers were still grappling with the idea of a vast, hypothetical southern landmass known as Terra Australis. At the time, many maps depicted southern South America and nearby islands as extensions of this supposed continent. Tierra del Fuego often appeared attached to this imagined southern land rather than clearly separated as an island group.

The Meaning Behind the “Smoke Billowing” Reference

The imagery of a canoe with smoke rising from its center directly connects to the origin of the archipelago’s name. When Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition passed through the strait in 1520, sailors observed numerous fires burning along the shore. These fires were set by Indigenous inhabitants of the region, including the Selk’nam and Yaghan peoples.

From the ships, the smoke was highly visible against the cold southern landscape. European observers interpreted the constant presence of smoke as evidence of a land marked by fire. The Spanish name Tierra del Fuego emerged from these sightings. Early cartographers sometimes illustrated this detail visually, incorporating smoke or flames into depictions of the region.

Cartography and the Southern Continent Theory

In 1606, European geographic knowledge of the Southern Hemisphere remained incomplete. Many scholars believed in the existence of a massive southern continent that balanced the landmasses of the Northern Hemisphere. This theoretical land, Terra Australis, appeared prominently on maps well into the 17th century.

Because Tierra del Fuego lay so far south, it was frequently drawn as part of this larger imagined continent. Only later explorations, particularly those that circumnavigated the southern tip of South America, confirmed that Tierra del Fuego was separated from any continental landmass by open water. The gradual correction of these maps marked an important step in the development of modern geographic understanding.

Why Tierra del Fuego Fits the Clue

The clue combined three key elements: a 1606 map, an archipelago, and smoke rising from a canoe. Few places meet all three criteria as precisely as Tierra del Fuego. It was known to European explorers by the early 1500s, prominently featured on early maps, and named specifically because of the fires observed there.

Its position at the edge of the Southern Hemisphere also reinforces the category. Tierra del Fuego represents one of the southernmost inhabited regions of the Americas and played a significant role in early navigation routes around the continent. The Final Jeopardy clue required contestants to connect historical cartography with exploration history and the literal meaning behind the archipelago’s name.

Thursday’s clue offered a reminder of how early maps blended observation with theory. Tierra del Fuego stands as a lasting example of how exploration, Indigenous presence, and evolving geographic knowledge shaped the way the Southern Hemisphere was understood.