Hernando de Soto

Hello. My name is Hernando de Soto. I am an explorer from a country called Spain. A very long time ago, around the year 1500, I dreamed of having big adventures. I loved sailing on big ships with tall sails that went whoosh in the wind. It was so exciting to travel across the wide, blue ocean. I always wanted to see new places that no one from my home had ever seen before. Getting on a ship and sailing away to find something new was my favorite thing in the whole world. Are you ready to come on an adventure with me.

My friends and I sailed on our big ship for a very long time. In the year 1541, our ship brought us to a new land, which is now called America. The land was so big. We got off our ship and started to explore. We saw tall, green trees that looked like they could touch the clouds. We walked for a very, very long time. Then, one day, we saw something amazing. It was a river. But it wasn't just any river. It was a giant river. It was so big that it looked like a giant road made of water. This was the mighty Mississippi River. We were so excited to be the first people from our home to see it.

My biggest adventure was being the first explorer from my home to see and cross that mighty river. I lived a life full of exploration, always looking for new things to discover. People remember me today as the brave explorer who journeyed to new lands. They remember me for showing the world the amazing, giant river that I found on my adventure.