Vikings & Leif Erikson
Discover how Viking explorer Leif Erikson reached America 500 years before Columbus!
An image of what Leif Erikson may have looked like
ILLUSTRATION BY Duskbloom Littles
Meet Leif Erikson, the brave Viking explorer who became the first European to reach North America - 500 years before Christopher Columbus was even born! Around the year 1000, this fearless son of Erik the Red sailed his longship across the dangerous North Atlantic Ocean.
Leif started his journey from Greenland, where his father had established a Viking settlement. Following stories of land seen to the west, Leif sailed his sturdy longship filled with 35 brave Viking warriors across icy waters to reach a new continent.
Leif Erikson and his Viking crew building the first European settlement in North America around the year 1000
The Vikings landed in what they called "Vinland" (probably modern-day Canada) because they found wild grapes growing there. They built houses and spent the winter, becoming the first Europeans to live in America! The Vikings made several trips back and forth for about 10 years.
Vikings navigating by the stars and sun using simple tools while sailing across the North Atlantic
Leif Erikson and the Vikings proved that courage, excellent seamanship, and determination could lead to incredible discoveries across the world's most challenging oceans!
