Christopher Columbus made a total of four voyages to the Americas. His first voyage, funded by the Spanish monarchy, set sail on August 3, 1492, and reached the Bahamas on October 12 of the same year. This historic voyage marked the beginning of European exploration and colonization of the Americas.

On his second voyage in 1493, Columbus established a settlement on the island of Hispaniola and continued to explore the Caribbean islands. His third voyage in 1498 took him to Trinidad and the mainland of South America, where he explored the Orinoco River. Columbus' fourth and final voyage in 1502 brought him to Central America, where he encountered the indigenous peoples of Honduras and Nicaragua.

Despite the significance of his voyages, Columbus' actions and legacy remain controversial. While he is often credited with "discovering" the Americas, many argue that indigenous peoples had already been living in the Americas for thousands of years before his arrival. Additionally, Columbus' treatment of the indigenous populations he encountered, including enslavement and forced labor, has been widely criticized.

Today, Columbus Day is celebrated in the United States on the second Monday of October to honor the explorer's first voyage to the Americas. However, in recent years, there has been a growing movement to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day to acknowledge the history and contributions of Native American peoples.

In conclusion, Christopher Columbus made a total of four voyages to the Americas, each one playing a significant role in the history of European exploration and colonization of the New World. While his legacy remains complex and controversial, Columbus' voyages continue to shape our understanding of the world and its diverse cultures.

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