What are facts about the exploration Pierre de la Verendrye?

* Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye, was born on November 17, 1685, in Trois-Rivières, New France.

* He was a French-Canadian fur trader, explorer, and military officer who is best known for his explorations of the Canadian Prairies and the Rocky Mountains.

* In 1731, La Vérendrye was appointed commander of the French fur trading post at Fort Kaministiquia on the north shore of Lake Superior.

* From there, he led a series of expeditions into the interior of North America, searching for a water route to the Pacific Ocean.

* In 1734, La Vérendrye reached the Saskatchewan River, and in 1738 he reached the Rocky Mountains.

* Although he never found the Pacific Ocean, La Vérendrye's explorations opened up the Canadian Prairies to European fur traders and settlers.

* He also established a number of forts in the region, including Fort La Reine (near present-day Portage la Prairie, Manitoba) and Fort Rouge (near present-day Winnipeg, Manitoba).

* La Vérendrye died in 1749 at Fort La Reine.

* His explorations were continued by his sons, Louis-Joseph and François.

* Today, La Vérendrye is considered one of the most important explorers of North America.