Final answer:
The El Dorado myth recounts a mythical city of gold based on the Muisca king's gold dust diving ritual; however, the Spaniards' search for such a city yielded nothing as it was a misinterpretation of the Muisca's cultural practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
The differences between the El Dorado myth and the actual place are rooted in the practices and beliefs of the Muisca people. The myth of El Dorado began with the Muisca ritual where the king covered himself in gold dust and dove into a ceremonial lake as a purification rite.
This display was grossly misinterpreted by Spanish explorers like Coronado, transforming into a legend about a city of gold. However, there was no golden city, only the sacred cultural practices of a people whose wealth was imagined and exaggerated by outsiders.