Francisco de Orellana
| Francisco de Orellana | |
|---|---|
| Birthplace | Trujillo, Extremadura, Spain |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Occupation | |
| Known for | First known navigation through the length of the Amazon River |
Orellana, Francisco de
Born 1505 or 1511 in Trujillo, Spain; died 1546 or 1550 in Brazil. Spanish conquistador.
In 1537, Orellana reestablished Fort Guayaquil, which had been destroyed by the Indians. In 1541 he left Guayaquil and crossed the Andes. He traveled along the Napo River and then down the Amazon, which crossed the “land of the Amazons”; he reached the Atlantic Ocean in August 1542. Orellana traversed South America at its widest part and traced the entire middle and lower Amazon.