Why did spain explore and colonize the american southwest

i think the answer is c, rivers.

explanation:

sometimes, borders fall along natural boundaries like rivers or mountain ranges. for example, the boundary between france and spain follows the crest of the pyrenees mountains. for part of its length, the boundary between the united states and mexico follows a river called the rio grande. the borders of four countries divide africa’s lake chad: niger, chad, cameroon, and nigeria.

since most of current immigration into the u.s., both legal and illegal, is coming from latin america. it would be very difficult to imagine or rationalize a country my fellow citizens are trying desperately to flee into, would pose a threat to my prosperity or freedom. since the u.s. has a long history of intervention, but no record of permanent occupation, i would not feel oppression is the main objective.  

the largest free trade nation, along with the largest gdp in the world wanting to expand it's economic policy on us, and including us, could only be positive. the u.s. government has no interest in, or way of simply forcing american culture on us. and has no track record of it. other nations that adopted american social culture, or "americanization" did so voluntarily, mainly through the choice of allowing american businesses and u.s. citizens to come into their nations, as free operatives.