Notable Explorers

           Leif Erikson was an Icelandic Norwegian Viking explorer. He was born around 980 in Iceland. Erikson was the first European to reach North America. He was the son of Erik the Red and Thjodhild. Erik the Red was also a famous Norwegian Viking explorer. He was the eldest of 4 siblings.  Erikson had a half-sister named Freydis and had two brothers named Thorstein and Thorvald. He married Thorgunna and they had a son named Thorkell Leifsson. Erikson last name is spelled in various ways. It is spelled “Eriksson” and “Eirikson”. “Erikson” means “son of Erik.”

[http://www.mnc.net/norway/LeifErikson.htm]

        Erik the Red killed many people which resulted, in him being banished from Iceland. Therefore Erikson grew up in Greenland. Erick the Red made a Norwegian colony in Greenland during his exile. This settlement is present day Julianehab. After a while Erikson became the leader of the settlement. Eickson's home was the center of social and political life on the island. As a young child, Erikson learned to farm and sail. He became a great sailor. When Erikson was around the age of 20, he sailed to Norway. He died around the year of 1020 and around the age 40.

[http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Leif_Ericson]

            Erikson was the first person ever to cross the Atlantic directly from Greenland. This was very important in that time because they didn't have compasses or navigational tools as compared today. Erikson used the suns and the stars to navigate his direction. This was very hard because sometimes you would go the wrong direction. He was very brave since it took great courage and skill to sail the ocean. This wasn’t only the accomplishment Erikson made.

[http://library.thinkquest.org/4034/ericson.html]

            When Erikson went back to Greenland he heard a strange story. A man named Bjarni went the wrong direction and by accident he had discovered strange, new lands. The first place Bjarni reached was a land that had heavily forested and was very hilly. He knew it wasn't Greenland so he left the land. After two days he found a new land that was flat and wooded. He knew that he wasn't at Greenland so he set sail again. Three days later, Bjarni and his crew, found a piece of land that they weren’t familiar with. This time the land was mountainous and covered with glaciers. Bjarni knew he still didn’t reach his destination. Finally after four days of sailing Bjarni was at Greenland.

[World Book Encyclopedia Erikson, Leif page 350-351]

            After Erikson heard the story, he wanted to see the land for himself. Although he was barely 21 years old, he was adventurous and curious. He began making preparations for his journey. Then he found 35 men to sail with him. He visited Bjarni for directions to the new land and bought Bjarni’s ship too. Erickson then asked his father, Erick the Red, to come along with him on his journey. His father said no but Erickson was able to persuade him to come along. The day they were going to set sea, Erick the Red's horse leg broke. His father thought it was a bad sign and decided not to go. Around the year of 1000 they began to see the land Bjarni saw. Within days they found land. The new land wasn't very inviting. The new land had mountains covered with glaciers. A narrow strip of land between the mountains and sea was covered with flat grey stones.  Erikson didn't want to stay, and decided to leave. He named the land “Helleland”. This meant “land of flat stones.” Erickson and his crew headed southwest. They found land that was flat and had miles of white sand beach. These were things they never seen before. They explored the land and Erikson named it “Markland” which meant “wooded land.” Since Erikson knew Bjarni saw three lands he set sea again. About two days of sailing, they reached a small island and a larger deserted island to the south. The men found the grass wet with dew. The men tasted the grass and said it was the sweetest thing they ever ate. The sailors found a peaceful and beautiful land where rivers and lakes were full of fishes; the forest had lumber for building homes and wood for fuel. Erikson and the crew decided to stay there for the summer. One day a crew member came back with grape which wasn’t available in Greenland. They made wine out of the grapes. Erikson named the land Vinland which meant “vine land” or “whine land.” When spring came, the crew sailed back to Greenland. Erikson is thought to be the first European to explore North America.

[ Leif the Lucky By: Inquri Daularie page 5-21]