Helluland and Markland
Leif Eriksson sighted and visited two new lands before he discovered Vinland.
The first of the two is Helluland. This was most probably, Baffin Island. He was
greeted with the sight of numerous large flat stones, which met and stopped
where large great mountains of ice began. It was a land entirely devoid of good
qualities, he decided, and, before sailing away, Leif named this new land
Helluland (flat stone land).
The second land Leif discovered was of more interest. Pulling ashore, he and
his men briefly explored the area, and commented on its thick forests which
covered much of the level expanse. Leif named this place Markland (Wood Land)
and it was most probably Labrador Island.
