1621day.year
The Mayflower sets sail from Plymouth, Massachusetts on a return trip to England.
The Mayflower departs Plymouth Colony on April 5, 1621, beginning its return voyage to England after delivering the first Pilgrims to New England.
On April 5, 1621, the Mayflower slipped its moorings from the fledgling Plymouth settlement and set sail for England. The merchant ship had carried sixty Pilgrims and nearly ninety others across the Atlantic the previous year. Its departure marked the end of a perilous voyage that included treacherous storms and the first harsh New England winter. Though many lives were lost, the settlement survived with help from local Native Americans. The Mayflower’s return voyage carried goods and furs back to sponsors in London. The ship’s legacy endures as a symbol of early colonial enterprise and transatlantic connection.
1621
Mayflower
Plymouth, Massachusetts
1910day.year
The Transandine Railway connecting Chile and Argentina is inaugurated.
The Transandine Railway, linking Chile and Argentina across the Andes, officially opens.
On April 5, 1910, the Transandine Railway, running from Mendoza in Argentina to Los Andes in Chile, was officially inaugurated.
Engineers overcame challenging Andean terrain by constructing rack-and-pinion sections, tunnels, and steel viaducts at high altitudes.
Spanning approximately 192 kilometers, the line dramatically reduced travel time and reliance on mule caravans.
It became a vital artery for transporting copper, wine, and livestock between the two nations.
Although heavy snowfall forced seasonal closures, the railway symbolized early 20th-century engineering prowess in South America.
1910
Transandine Railway
1958day.year
Ripple Rock, an underwater threat to navigation in the Seymour Narrows in Canada is destroyed in one of the largest non-nuclear controlled explosions of the time.
Engineers detonate Ripple Rock in Canada’s Seymour Narrows, executing one of the largest non-nuclear explosions to clear a navigation hazard.
On April 5, 1958, Ripple Rock, an underwater twin-peaked mountain in the Seymour Narrows near Vancouver Island, was destroyed in a massive controlled explosion. The rock had long posed a deadly hazard to ships navigating the busy channel, causing numerous maritime accidents. Engineers drilled deep tunnels and placed over a thousand tons of explosives beneath the rock’s surface. When detonated, the blast removed the obstruction and dramatically improved safety for marine traffic. The explosion was meticulously planned and remains one of the largest non-nuclear man-made detonations in history. Local communities celebrated the achievement, which boosted trade and shipping efficiency in the region. Ripple Rock’s removal stands as a landmark engineering feat in North American infrastructure development.
1958
Ripple Rock
Seymour Narrows
Canada
1998day.year
In Japan, the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge opens to traffic, becoming the longest bridge span in the world.
The Akashi Kaikyō Bridge in Japan opens to traffic on April 5, 1998, becoming the longest suspension bridge span in the world.
The Akashi Kaikyō Bridge, also known as the Pearl Bridge, spans the Akashi Strait. When it opened on April 5, 1998, its main span of 1,991 meters set a new world record for suspension bridges. The bridge connects Kobe on the Japanese mainland to Awaji Island. It was built to withstand earthquakes, harsh weather, and tsunamis. Construction began in 1988 and involved over two million workers. The project cost approximately $4.3 billion. Today, the bridge carries thousands of vehicles daily and symbolizes Japan's engineering prowess. It remains a vital transportation link in the Kansai region.
1998
Japan
Akashi Kaikyō Bridge