8th May, 1541 Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto reached the Mississippi River

On the 8th of May, 1541 Spanish conquistador Hernando de Soto became the first European to reach the Mississippi River. Topographic map shows that it is the largest river system located in North America. Mississippi flows through ten states and it is the fourth in the list of the longest rivers on the planet after the Amazon, the Nile and the Yangtze River.

While traveling the secretary of Hernando de Soto made a report using which you can trace the route on the map. On the 30th of May, 1539 expedition approached the north- west coast of Florida, explored the Tampa Bay, then reached Tallahassee area and went to the mouth of the Savannah River. After this travelers climbed valley and reached the Blue Ridge Mountains and rivers of Alabama , rafted on it to the Gulf Mobili , passed to the north- west to Memphis.

On the 8th of May, 1541Hernando de Soto reached the Mississippi River. On the territory of modern Alabama state Spaniards were ambushed by Indians. Despite this, they managed to swim across the Mississippi, take a course to the west and reach the valley of the Arkansas River. Along the way, Hernando de Soto became ill with fever and decided to return. However, on May 21, 1542 he died in Louisiana. The remaining members of the expedition returned to Mexico in September 1543.

Hernando de Soto explored the hinterland of Georgia, Florida , Arkansas , South Carolina , Mississippi, Texas, Oklahoma , Tennessee, Alabama, and parts of Louisiana and Missouri.

A careful study of maps of the United States of America will reveal a bridge that connects the states of Arkansas and Tennessee which is named after Hernando de Soto.