Pedro de Sintra (Portuguese Explorer) 1462

[Arturo]

Pedro de Sintra also known as Pêro de Sintra was a Portuguese explorer. He was among the first Europeans to explore the West African coast. Around 1462 his expedition reached contemporary Sierra Leone and named it. Continuing their journey, they visited the Benin Empire.

In 1462, the Portuguese explorer Pedro de Sintra sailing down to the West African coast, of course with his “Portuguese Caravel” type ship (see topic ”Portuguese Caravel” by Auke Palmhof), saw the tall mountains rising from what is now Freetown peninsula or harbor, and named “Serra de Leao” which means “Lion mountains”, because of the shape formed by the hills surrounding the harbor. The Italian rendering of this geographic formation is Sierra Leone, thus the name.

Sierra Leone has the third largest natural harbor in the world. In 1495, the Portuguese established a port there, and were later joined by the Dutch and French, who used the area as a slave trading point.

Today, Sierra Leone is stil ranked as one of the poorest nations on Earth.

Sierra Leone 1984, S.G.?, Scott: 639.

Source: Wikipedia.