Francisco de Orellana

Francisco de Orellana

Francisco de Orellana was a Spanish explorer who lived a long time ago, from 1511 until 1546. He was born in Trujillo in Spain. He is most famous for his amazing trip down the Amazon River in South America.

In 1542, Orellana and his team sailed all the way down the Amazon River. They reached the end of the river and then sailed along the coast to Cubagua Island near Venezuela. This trip helped Europeans learn much more about South America.

Orellana also started the city of Guayaquil, which is now a big city in Ecuador. Many places are named after him, like Puerto Francisco de Orellana and Orellana Province. His journeys made him a well-known explorer from long ago.