Transatlantic
For the similarly named progressive rock supergroup, see Transatlantic (band).For the record company, see Transatlantic Records.The term
transatlantic refers to something occurring across the
Atlantic Ocean. Most often, this refers to the exchange of passengers, cargo, information, or communication between the
United States and
Europe (or between
North America and
Europe).
Transatlantic crossings are passages of passengers and cargo between North America and Europe. Prior to the
19th century, transatlantic crossings were undertaken in
sailing ships, which was a time consuming and often perilous journey. Transatlantic crossings became faster, safer, and more reliable with the advent of
steamships. Grand
ocean liners began making regularly scheduled crossings, and soon it became a symbol of national and company status to build the largest, fastest, and most luxurious ocean liner for transatlantic crossings. Examples of some famous transatlantic steamships are the
RMS Titanic,
RMS Queen Mary,
SS Normandie, and the
RMS Queen Elizabeth 2.
From the
17th century onward, almost all transatlantic crossings bound for North America were destined for
New York City. Early transatlantic trade made New York the primary port of North America early on, and as a result New York attracted most future transatlantic cargo and passenger traffic. New York became a world class city and the business capital of the United States. In addition, most transatlantic
immigrants arriving in the United States from Europe arrived in New York. As a result, New York was the primary destination for the rich and famous traveling in luxury aboard the transatlantic ocean liners as well as the poor immigrants traveling in the lower decks. Therefore, while transatlantic crossings can occur between any part of North America and Europe, they are almost always assumed to be based out of
New York City, unless otherwise stated.
Transatlantic flights would eventually surpass ocean liners as the predominant mode of crossing the Atlantic by the late
20th century. In
1919, the American
NC-4 became the first
airplane to cross the Atlantic (but in multiple stages). Later that year, a British
Vickers Vimy piloted by two men named
Alcock and Brown made the first non-stop transatlantic flight from
Newfoundland to
Ireland. In
1921, the British were the first to cross the Atlantic in an
airship. In
1927,
Charles Lindbergh made the first solo non-stop transatlantic flight in an airplane (between
New York City and
Paris).
The first serious attempt to take a share of the transatlantic passenger market away from the ocean liners was undertaken by
Germany. In the
1930s, Germany crossed the Atlantic with
zeppelins that could carry about 60 passengers in relatively the same luxurious style as the ocean liners. However, the
Hindenburg disaster in
1937 put an end to transatlantic zeppelin flights. Beginning in the
1950s, the glory and predominance of ocean liners began to wane when larger and larger passenger airplanes began whisking passengers across the ocean in less and less time. The speed of crossing the ocean became more popular than the style of crossing it. By the
1970s, supersonic
Concorde airplanes could cross the Atlantic in under four hours and only one ocean liner remained on the transatlantic route for those who favored the slower style of travel.
See also: Transatlantic flightTransatlantic cables are cables that have been laid along the ocean floor to connect North America and Europe. Before the advent of
radio, the only means of communication across the Atlantic Ocean was to physically connect the continents with a
transatlantic telegraph cable, which was installed from
Valentia,
Ireland to
Heart's Content,
Newfoundland in
1858. The
exchange rate between the
United States dollar and
British pound is still colloquially known as "cable" by financial marketeers on account of the fact the rate of exchange was one of the early uses of the transatlantic cable.
Transatlantic radio communication was first accomplished on December 12, 1901 by
Guglielmo Marconi who, using a temporary receiving station at
Signal Hill, Newfoundland, received a
Morse code signal representing the letter "S" sent from
Poldhu, in
Cornwall, United Kingdom.
Transatlantic radio-based communication replaced the transatlantic telegraph in
1927 and the first
transatlantic telephone cable was installed in
1955.
Satellite technology vastly increased the speed and quality of transatlantic communication, but transatlantic cables are still in use today, with the more recent being
fiber optic cables.
The
Transatlantic Tunnel is a structure proposed by one of the
engineers involved in the construction of the
Channel Tunnel beneath the
English Channel. It would be a
tunnel that spans the
Atlantic Ocean between
New York City and
England.
Today, some Britons and Americans use the term "crossing the pond" humorously in reference to transatlantic travel.
Through history and culture Europe and America are deeply connected with each other and this relationship is often referred to as transatlantic.
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Transatlantic flight*
Transatlantic relations*
List of islands in the Atlantic Ocean
