What was the real source of el dorado legend?

The legend of El Dorado originated from indigenous tribes in the Andes, particularly the Muisca people, who practiced a ritual involving a chief covered in gold dust, symbolizing wealth and divinity. Spanish conquistadors misinterpreted these accounts, leading to widespread tales of a city of gold. The quest for El Dorado fueled numerous expeditions in South America, but the city was never found, revealing the legend as a mixture of cultural practices and European greed. Ultimately, El Dorado symbolizes the allure of unattainable riches and the impact of colonization.