Circa 1312, Abu Bakr II, the ruler of the Mali Empire in Africa sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in an attempt to circumnavigate the world. Some of his ships landed at the mouth of the Rio Grande between today's Texas and Mexico where he began an overland trip to the Pacific Ocean. He brought his caravan of elephants and camels up the valley, through New Mexico to the Chama River Valley, impacting the many Indian villages along the way.His caravan crossed the Continental Divide and continued westward following the San Juan River into Utah. Due to narrow canyons he had to travel south of the Grand Canyon to the lower Colorado River reaching the Gulf of California. He then crossed over Baja California to the Pacific Ocean.
Circa 1312, Abu Bakr II, the ruler of the Mali Empire in Africa sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in an attempt to circumnavigate the world. Some of his ships landed at the mouth of the Rio Grande between today's Texas and Mexico where he began an overland trip to the Pacific Ocean. He brought his caravan of elephants and camels up the valley, through New Mexico to the Chama River Valley, impacting the many Indian villages along the way.His caravan crossed the Continental Divide and continued westward following the San Juan River into Utah. Due to narrow canyons he had to travel south of the Grand Canyon to the lower Colorado River reaching the Gulf of California. He then crossed over Baja California to the Pacific Ocean.
