Leif Ericson (970 - 1020) was a Norse explorer. He is thought to be the first European to land in North America, nearly 500 years before Christopher Columbus.

It is believed that Leif was born around 970 AD in Iceland. He was the son of Erik Thorvaldsson, known as Erik the Red. Erik was also a Norse explorer. He founded two Norse colonies in Greenland.

Leif and his crew members¡¯ exploration set out in the year 1002 or 1003. The first land he went to was covered with flat rocks. He called it Helluland, which means ¡°Land of the Flat Stones.¡± This was possibly Baffin Island, the largest island in Canada.

Next, he came to a region that was flat and wooded, with white sandy beaches. He called this Markland, which means ¡°Wood-land.¡± It is possibly Labrador.

Leif and his crew found another part of North America, which they named Vinland. Wild grapes and plenty of salmon were found there. The climate was mild, with green grass all year-round and little frost in winter.

The U.S. Congress authorized and requested the president to proclaim October 9 as ¡°Leif Erikson Day¡± in 1964. It is officially observed by several U.S. states.