NORÐLAND (NORTH COUNTRY)

Helluland was the first European settlement site in Canada in a region known today as Baffin Island. The land was originally settled by Norðmenn, who were fleeing forced Christianization and feudalism, over 1,000 years ago. According to popular culture and Íslendingasögur (Sagas of the Icelanders), Helluland was also first spotted by Bjarni Herjólfsson, contacted by Leifr Eiríksson, and further explored by Þorfinnr Þórðarson. However, Eiríkr Þorvaldsson (Eiríkr hinn rauði, aka Eric the Red) was actually the first Norðmaðr to settle what is now the Canadian Arctic.