Erik the Red

Erik the Red was a Norse explorer known for founding the first European settlement in Greenland around the late 10th century. Born in Norway, he was exiled to Iceland due to conflicts and later discovered Greenland while seeking new land. He named it "Greenland" to attract settlers, even though it was largely covered in ice. Erik's son, Leif Erikson, is also notable for being one of the first Europeans to reach North America, specifically Newfoundland, Canada. Erik's ventures are emblematic of the Viking Age's exploration and settlement of distant lands.