The Search for El Dorado

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Summary

In this program, Michael Wood travels back to 1541, when a rumor swept through Quito in Ecuador, claiming that beyond the mountains there lay a land richer than Mexico, or even Peru—a land of pure ...

In this program, Michael Wood travels back to 1541, when a rumor swept through Quito in Ecuador, claiming that beyond the mountains there lay a land richer than Mexico, or even Peru—a land of pure gold. As the story was told, the ruler of this land, “the golden man”, was so rich that he covered himself with gold dust every day and washed it off every evening. In March 1541, Francisco de Orellana marched eastwards with more than 200 Spanish troops and thousands of native servants in search of El Dorado. As portrayed in this film, it was a remarkable journey, resulting in the first known navigation of the length of the Amazon River. Part of the series Conquistadors. Distributed by PBS Distribution. (60 minutes)

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