Ancient Navigators: Francisco de Orellana

Francisco de Orellana (1511, Trujillo, Spain – November 1546, Amazon River) was a Spanish explorer and conquistador. He completed the first known navigation of the length of the Amazon River, which initially was named after him.

 
Orellana entered upon an exploration of the Amazon system. Drifting with the current, he reached the mouth of the river in August 1542. Proceeding to Trinidad, he finally returned to Spain, where he told of hoards of gold and cinnamon and of encounters with tribes led by women resembling the Amazons of Greek mythology—a comparison that is presumed to have led him to name the river the Amazon.