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Francisco de Orellana | |
|---|---|
 A bust of Francisco de Orellana with a patch over his left eye | |
| Born | 1511 |
| Died | November 1546 (aged 34–35) Amazon Delta (today Pará and Amapá, Brazil) |
| Nationality | Castilian (Spanish) |
| Occupation | Conquistador |
| Employer | Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor |
| Known for | First known navigation through the length of the Amazon River |
| Spouse | Ana de Ayala |
Francisco de Orellana (Spanish pronunciation: [fɾanˈθisko ðe oɾeˈʝana]; 1511 – November 1546) was a Spanish explorer and conquistador. In one of the most improbably successful voyages in known history, Orellana managed to sail the length of the Amazon, arriving at the river's mouth on 24 August 1542. He and his party sailed along the Atlantic coast until reaching Cubagua Island, near the coast of Venezuela.
Orellana founded the city of Guayaquil in what is now Ecuador, and died during a second expedition on the Amazon.