Why did Christopher Columbus think the Gulf of Paria was near the Earthly Paradise?

Christopher Columbus believed the Gulf of Paria was located near the Earthly Paradise due to a combination of his navigational observations and his interpretation of biblical and classical texts.1

During his third voyage, Columbus observed that the rotation of the polestar gave him the impression that his fleet was climbing as it approached the Paria Peninsula. He also noted that the weather had become extremely mild and that there was an enormous volume of fresh water flowing into the Gulf of Paria.1

Drawing upon his extensive reading, Columbus concluded that these phenomena could only be explained by the fleet having ascended toward the temperate heights of the Earthly Paradise, from which the rivers of Paradise flowed into the sea. He viewed these signs as confirmation that he had reached the outer regions of this sacred location, a belief he maintained even as he faced personal and professional hardships.1