Leif Eriksson, also spelled Leif Erikson, was a Norse explorer widely regarded as the first European to set foot in North America, predating Christopher Columbus by nearly 500 years. He was born around 970 CE in Iceland, the son of Erik the Red, the founder of the first Norse settlement in Greenland.
Leif’s most notable achievement was his voyage to a land he called Vinland, around the year 1000 CE. Historians believe this land was located in present-day Newfoundland, Canada, specifically at the site of L’Anse aux Meadows, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Vinland was described as having abundant resources, including wild grapes, which inspired its name.
Leif Eriksson, also known as Leif the Lucky, was a true Viking in spirit—adventurous and brave. His journey across the Atlantic Ocean was made possible by the advanced shipbuilding techniques of the Norse people, who constructed robust longships capable of enduring the harsh sea conditions from Greenland. His journeys are recorded in Norse sagas, such as the Saga of the Greenlanders and the Saga of Erik the Red.
Though his settlement in Vinland was short-lived, Leif Eriksson’s explorations were a remarkable achievement for the time, and his legacy is celebrated in both Scandinavian and North American cultures. Leif Erikson Day is observed annually on October 9 in the United States.
