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Leif Erikson

Leif Erikson (970-1020) was a Norse Viking and explorer from Iceland. He was the first European to set foot on continental North America, establishing a Norse settlement at Vinland on the northern tip of Newfoundland.

Biography[]

Leif Erikson was born in Breidafjordur, Iceland in 970, the son of Erik the Red and the brother of Freydis Eiriksdottir. Leif was a Viking in his early days, and, in 999, he and his crew travelled from Greenland to Norway.

Leif became a hirdman of Olav Tryggvason, and, after converting to Christianity, he was sent to introduce the religion to Greenland. He was blown off course while en route to Norway, and he instead landed on the island of Newfoundland across the Atlantic. He named the island "Vinland", as it was full of self-sown wheat fields and grapevines.

He then sailed to Greenland with a cargo of grapes and timber taken from North America, and his successful journey encouraged other Norsemen to do the same. Leif died in Greenland in 1020.

Gallery[]

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