Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Alarcón, Hernando

ALARCÓN, HERNANDO, a Spanish navigator; flourished in the 16th century; leader of an expedition to Mexico, which set sail in 1540. He proved that California was a peninsula and not an island, as had been previously supposed. He penetrated in boats a considerable distance up the Colorado river. On his return to New Spain he made a valuable map of the California peninsula.