Rodrigo de Triana facts for kids
Rodrigo de Triana was a Spanish sailor born in 1469 in Lepe, Huelva, Spain. His real name was Juan Rodríguez Bermejo. He is famous for being the first European to see the Americas since Leif Erikson. His father, Vicente Bermejo, was a potter and a hidalgo. A hidalgo was a person from a noble family in Spain.
A Big Discovery
On October 12, 1492, Rodrigo de Triana was sailing on Christopher Columbus' ship, the Pinta. He was the first person to spot land. This land was an island that the local people called Guanahani.
Land Ahoy!
Rodrigo de Triana saw the island in the Bahamas very early in the morning, around two o'clock. He shouted, "Tierra! Tierra!" which means "Land! Land!" Christopher Columbus later wrote in his journal that he had seen a faint light four hours earlier. However, he was not sure if it was land.
The small island Rodrigo saw was part of the Lucayas archipelago, now known as the Bahamas. Columbus later named this island San Salvador. He chose this name to honor Jesus Christ and to celebrate the safety of finding land after their long journey.
What Happened Next?
After his journey to the Americas, Rodrigo de Triana returned to Spain. He then sailed to Africa.
A Satellite Named After Him
Many years later, NASA named a satellite after Rodrigo de Triana. This satellite is called the Deep Space Climate Observatory. It was first planned to give a constant view of the entire Earth from space.
