Some of Greenland’s islands were discovered sometime during the 10th century by an Icelandic Viking by the name Gunnbjörn Ulfsson and his crew, who were blown off course from Norway to Iceland. His life, deeds, and this voyage are briefly documented in the Icelandic saga ‘Landnámabók’ (‘The Book of the Settlements’ in translation). These islands…
The ruins of the Hvalsey church from southern Greenland represent the best preserved historical evidence of a past Norse settlement in the region during the Middle Ages. Geographically, the site on which the church was built is located on a narrow strip of land facing a fjord, in the proximity of the small town of…
Below you can read a list of ten facts you should know about Greenland. 10. Roughly 80% of Greenland’s total area is ice-capped. However, the remainder ice free territory of the island accounts for nearly the total area of Sweden. 9. As of 2015, the island has a total population of 55,847 permanent residents. Of…
This article represents a brief overview on the fate of the lost Vikings of Greenland and their historical legacy throughout the centuries. We’ll start off with a noteworthy quote by Robert J. McNamara: ‘The west coast of Greenland was the site of a thriving Viking colony for hundreds of years. Originally settled by explorers who…
Earliest human activity in Greenland is thought to have commenced from 2,500 BC when it was first settled by various migratory tribes, in stark contrast to the Viking Age which most historians agreed to have commenced in the late 8th century. Nonetheless, given the fact that life conditions on this large island have always been…
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