Ericsstadir was once the home of Eric the Red, and the birthplace of his son, Leifur Eriksson - the first European to set foot in North America, in the year 1000. Although he only stayed there a year, he paved the way for other Viking settlers in the land they called Vínland - the land of grapes. The Vikings didn't remain in Vínland long however, a combination of disease and hostile natives forced them to leave after a few dozen years.