Andrés Niño facts for kids

Andrés Niño was a Spanish explorer and skilled navigator. He was born in Moguer, Spain, in 1475. He died around 1530. He is best known for his important voyages of discovery along the Pacific coast of Central America.

Andrés Niño's Early Life and Skills

From a young age, Andrés Niño worked as a navigator. He sailed ships for the Portuguese government. His early trips took him to the coast of Africa and the East Indies. By 1515, he traveled to Panama. There, he became known as a very skilled pilot.

Exploring the Pacific Ocean

In 1521, Gil González Dávila received a special task from the Spanish king. He was to explore and conquer the "Mar del Sur," which is now known as the Pacific Ocean. This exploration would cover the coast west and north of Panama.

González Dávila had four ships built. The wood for these ships had to be carried with great effort across the land from the Atlantic Ocean. He chose Andrés Niño to be his chief pilot. They began their journey on January 21, 1522. They sailed from Tararegui, located in the Bay of San Miguel.

Discoveries Along the Coast

During the expedition, González Dávila landed in the Bay of San Vicente. This area is now called Caldera in Costa Rica. He explored the land with some of his men. Meanwhile, Niño sailed further north. He was looking for a passage to the Atlantic Ocean. The local people had told them about this passage.

Niño followed the coast far to the north. He did not find the passage he was looking for. So, he returned south. There, he found González Dávila in trouble. An army of 4,000 local people had surrounded him. Niño helped to scatter this large group.

They continued their exploration together. They discovered several important places. These included the coast of Cape Blanco and the Bay of Papagayos. They also found Possession River. They named a large gulf Fonseca, honoring a Spanish official.

Meeting Local Tribes and Finding New Lands

The explorers landed in the lands of a leader named Nicarao. They had many encounters with the local tribes. These tribes were known for being warlike. Despite the challenges, they traveled inland. There, they found a very large freshwater lake. They called it Mar Dulce, meaning "sweet lake." Today, this lake is known as Lake Nicaragua. They also discovered the Masaya Volcano.

First Visit to El Salvador

Andrés Niño made the first known visit by Spaniards to what is now El Salvador. He led his expedition to Central America. On May 31, 1522, he landed in the Gulf of Fonseca. He first stopped at Meanguera island. He named this island Petronila. After that, he traveled to Jiquilisco Bay. This bay is located at the mouth of the Lempa River.

Return and Later Life

After exploring Panama thoroughly, Niño and his crew sailed back. They arrived in Panama on December 29, 1522. They brought back a lot of treasure. They described the new lands as incredibly rich. They even called it "the paradise of Mohammed" because of its wealth.

The next year, González Dávila sailed to Spain. He wanted to ask the king to make him governor of the new lands. He also wanted to prepare a new expedition. Andrés Niño returned with him to enjoy his new riches. However, his health had been weakened by his many difficult voyages. He did not live for many more years after his return.

See also

In Spanish: Andrés Niño para niños