Here are the matches between the key events and the Spanish explorers:
- Columbus - First European to reach the Americas, landing in 1492.
- Ponce de Leon - Known for his quest for the Fountain of Youth and the discovery of Florida in 1513.
- de Soto - Led the first European expedition deep into the territory of the modern United States, including the Mississippi River, in the 1530s.
If you need to input them as a list:
- Columbus: First European to reach the Americas (1492)
- Ponce de Leon: Discovery of Florida (1513)
- de Soto: Expedition to the Mississippi River (1530s)