HORN, or Hoorn, Cape, commonly considered the southern extremity of America, is not a part of that continent, but the most southerly point of a small island of the Tierra del Fuego group; S. Lat. 56. 58. 40., W. Long. 67. 16. It consists of a lofty, precipitous, bare black rock, running far out into the sea; and was formerly considered dangerous to pass on account of the strong westerly gales that prevail in its neighbourhood during summer, but as these are restricted by the vicinity of the cape, vessels avoid the difficulty by sailing in a higher latitude. It was discovered in 1616 by the Dutch navigator Schouten, who named it after his native town, Hoorn.