La Salle expedition

The La Salle expedition, led by French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, in 1682 aimed to find a water route to the Gulf of Mexico by traveling down the Mississippi River. La Salle's goal was to establish French claims in North America and create a fur trading route. Although the expedition faced challenges and ultimately failed to reach the Gulf, it significantly contributed to the mapping of the Mississippi River and laid groundwork for future French exploration in the region.