Francisco de Orellana explored the Amazon River.
The Spanish explorer Francisco de Orellana traveled down the length of the Amazon River, from its source in the Andes Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean, in 1541. Along the way, Orellana and his men encountered numerous indigenous tribes, some of whom they fought against. Orellana named the river after the female warriors he encountered, whom he likened to the Amazons of Greek mythology.