Why Alvaro de Mendana’s first voyage was become unique?

               Alvaro de Mendana, a Spanish navigator, was born in Congosto in El Bierzo Region. He was the nephew of Lope Garcia de Castro, viceroy of Peru.

               After discovering almost all the land masses around the globe, there was one left- the continent ‘Terra Australis’. Alvaro de Mendana is best known for the two voyages of discovery he led into the Pacific in search of Terra Australis.

               He set out on the first voyage on 20th November 1567 with two ships. The expedition did not sight land for many months.

               Later, on 7th February 1568, they reached an island, which they named the Solomon Islands. They named it after the wealthy biblical King Solomon, because they thought, mistakenly, that the island had great riches.

               The Solomon Islands were mountainous islands. Mendana was convinced that he was nearing the continent Terra Australis. He explored three neighbouring islands, which he named Guadalcanal, Malaita and San Cristobal. Gradually, Alvaro de Mendana realized that he had discovered an island group, and not a continent. And the Terra Australis was yet to explore.