The Wilkes Expedition was a significant scientific and exploratory mission led by U.S. Navy Lieutenant Charles Wilkes from 1838 to 1842. Its primary goal was to explore and map the coast of the Pacific Northwest and the Antarctic region. The expedition included a fleet of six ships and gathered valuable data on geography, oceanography, and natural history. During the voyage, the expedition made important discoveries, including the first detailed mapping of parts of the Antarctic continent and the identification of numerous islands in the South Pacific. The findings contributed to the understanding of these regions and laid the groundwork for future explorations.