People (1) ... in the Amazon Basin for 10,000 years when it was "first discovered” by a Spaniard called Don Francisco de Orellana in 1542. He (2) ... for forests of cinnamon and, of course, gold. The Indians promised the Europeans that there was gold because they knew that as long as the Spaniards needed them as guides, the Indians were safe. In fact it was nearly a year before Orellana and his team finally (3) ... the junction of the Napo and Amazon rivers. Originally the new river (4) ... Rio de Orellana after its European discoverer. Although the Spaniards didn't find any gold, they did find the greatest river in the world. However, today we (5) ... the wonderful Amazon rainforests and it (6) ... that the last remaining rainforests could be destroyed in less than 40 years. Moreover, nearly half of the world’s species of plants, animals and microorganisms (7) ... over the next 25 years due to rainforest deforestation.