Orellana Expedition Named Amazon River

During a 1541 expedition east of Quito to find El Dorado and a supposed valley of cinnamon, Spanish explorer Francisco de Orellana separated from Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Pizarro and led about 57 men downriver. Indigenous warriors led by women reportedly attacked Orellana's party, reminding him of the female Amazons from Greek mythology. He reportedly named the river Rio Amazonas, and his group reached its Atlantic mouth in August 1542.

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