The early exploration of Florida started when Ponce de León and Christopher Columbus started another exploration to the Americas. Ponce de León found a close island called Borinquen. When he was there he found large amounts of gold. He left , but he came back again in 1508 because the king wanted him to go back, but explore and colonise the land. He named the island Puerto Rico. He was the governor for two years, but the king wanted Columbus’s son to be the governor. Ponce de León was hurt because of this, so he sailed north heading to Florida. He wanted to find new lands and treasure, but he also heard of this thing called Magical Fountain of Youth. It would make old people and young people young forever. In March 1513, his ships finally
