Answer:
The Scandinavians discovered "Vinland" via Iceland and Greenland, and settled in areas of the North Atlantic, including the northern coasts of North America, beginning in the 9th century. The settlements did not have as long-lasting effects as later conquests would have, and can be seen as a prelude to the large-scale European settlements in America.
According to two Icelandic sagas, Bjarni Herjolfsson was driven off course on the way from Iceland to Greenland and sighted land west of Greenland. He described his discovery Leif Eriksson, who explored the area more closely and supposedly founded a small settlement.
The sagas describe three separate areas that were discovered during the exploration: Helluland, which means "land of flat stones"; Markland, which was covered by forest (which the Greenlandic settlers were very interested in since they had little forest); and Vinland, which was a little south of Markland. The sagas say that a settlement was established in Vinland. Â
