Banished from Iceland in 982 A.D., a fiery tempered Erik the Red struck out westward in search of a land described in the accounts of the sailor Gunbjorn, a mariner who once had been blown off course on a trip to Norway. He found the island of Greenland and during his three year banishment explored the Island's coastline extensively.

Upon returning to Iceland after his voyage, Erik encouraged others to return with him and settle this "Green"land. He chose for his own a green meadowland surrounded by mountains and called it Brattahlid in Eriksfjord.