Erik the Red

Vikings · exploration · Greenland · Norse

Red hair and beard. Erik Thorvaldsson earned his famous nickname "the Red" probably because of his bright red hair and beard, which made him stand out among other Vikings.

Found Greenland. Erik was a Norse explorer who discovered Greenland and realized it could be a place where people could actually live, even though it was cold and icy.

Started a settlement. He founded the first European settlement in Greenland, which meant Vikings could have homes, farms, and communities on this distant island more than 1,000 years ago.

Fearless sailor. Erik was brave enough to sail across the dangerous North Atlantic Ocean to explore unknown lands when most people thought those waters were too scary to cross.

Famous in sagas. Stories about Erik the Red were written down in medieval Icelandic sagas, which are like adventure books that tell us about his exciting life and discoveries.