![Crossing the Atlantic - 11th Century](91/h3-vtb06_1-e.jpg)
![[graphic]](91/h3-vtb51.jpg)
![Introduction](91/h3-vtb14_1-e.jpg)
![Saga of Eric the Red](91/h3-vtb22_1-e.jpg)
![Transportation](91/h3-vtb18_1-e.jpg)
![Bjarni Herjólfsson](91/h3-vtb23_1-e.jpg)
![Liefr Eiriksson](91/h3-vtb24_2-e.jpg)
![Thorfinnr Thordarson](91/h3-vtb25_1-e.jpg)
![Freydis Eiriksdøttir](91/h3-vtb26_1-e.jpg)
![After](91/h3-vtb21_1-e.jpg)
![Summary](91/h3-vtb50_1-e.jpg)
![[graphic]](91/h3-vtb00.jpg)
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Vikings
Leifr Eiriksson
![Map showing the Vikings' voyage from Greenland to Newfoundland in the eleventh century](../../obj/h3/f1/nlc000846-v2.jpg) |
The Vikings were the first Europeans proven to have crossed the Atlantic and to have lived in North America Copyright/Source |
Leifr Eiriksson (also known as Lief Erikson) was the first known European to set foot on North America. His father was the famous Eric the Red (Eirikr Thorvaldsson). There are two stories of Leifr's voyage. In one, he found North America by accident. In another, he followed Herjólfsson's route.
A Mystery!
For years, historians, archaeologists, astronomers, navigators and many others, have tried to figure out exactly where Eiriksson visited. Helluland, "Land of Flat Stones" may have been Baffin Island; Markland, "Land of Woods" may have been Labrador; and Vinland, "Land of Wine" seems to have been Newfoundland.
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