Juan Rivera (explorer) facts for kids
Juan Maria Antonio Rivera (sometimes spelled Ribera) was a Spanish explorer from the 1700s. He explored parts of what is now the southwestern United States, including areas of the Rocky Mountains.
In 1765, the governor of New Mexico, Tomás Vélez Cachupin, asked Rivera to lead an important journey. Rivera's group traveled north from Santa Fe, New Mexico, into what is now Utah and Colorado.
Rivera's Explorations
Why the Expedition?
Rivera's journey had two main goals. First, he was looking for silver. Second, he wanted to help stop other European countries from expanding their control in the region. Spain wanted to keep its land safe.
Traveling Through New Lands
As Rivera and his team explored, they passed through lands where the Ute and Southern Paiute tribes lived. These tribes had lived in these areas for a very long time.
Rivera's group crossed the Los Animas River near what is now Durango, Colorado. This river flows into the Colorado River, and Rivera might have been the one to name it.
Discovering Gold
When Rivera returned to Santa Fe, he brought back some rock samples. These samples were important because they were some of the first times gold was found in what is now Colorado. However, at that time, people weren't very interested in these gold discoveries.
