Great Northern Peninsula, Newfoundland

Vikings and icebergs

L'anse aux Meadows at the far north tip of the Great Northern Peninsula in Newfoundland was the first landing site of Vikings in North America around 1000 AD. The archaeological remains of the settlement were discovered in 1960 by the Ingstads, a Norwegian couple who were convinced that this is the site of Vinland of Norse sagas. The settlement was though to have lasted for a couple of years before it was abandoned. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The original settlement contain eight buildings constructed of sod laid over a wood frame construction. In the meadow you can see reconstructions of the settlement, while offshore ice bergs that migrate down from Greenland in the spring and summer can be seen.

Responding to the 'bleak' comment by Joan and Juliennane, research on the site shows that around the time the site was settled this meadow contained a forest and fresh water, which was one of the reasons why it was chosen, as the Vikings needed wood for framing their houses, boat building and for heating forges, etc. But winters in particular were bleak and that, combined with reports of aggression from the native tribes (the Beothuks, extinct since the 1800s) led to the abandonment of the site.

L'anse aux MeadowUNESCO World Heritagesod buildingicebergsmeadowGreat Northern PeninsulaNewfoundlandViking settlement