El Dorado, meaning "the golden one" in Spanish, is a legendary figure or place associated with the South American region of the Andes. The legend of El Dorado originated with the Muisca people of present-day Colombia, who believed that their ruler, the Zipa, was covered in gold dust during religious ceremonies. Later versions of the legend tell of a wealthy ruler or tribe that covered themselves in gold or lived in a city of gold.

Explorers and adventurers, including the Spanish conquistadors, searched for El Dorado in the 16th and 17th centuries. The search for El Dorado led to the conquest and colonization of much of South America, as well as the destruction of indigenous cultures and the deaths of many indigenous people.

Despite the fact that the legend of El Dorado was a myth, many explorers, such as Sir Walter Raleigh, believed it to be real and went to great lengths to find it, leading to the exploration of much of South America.

In recent times, the name El Dorado has been used to refer to any place or thing that is incredibly valuable or sought after, often used in reference to a hypothetical place of great wealth.