Markland facts for kids
Markland was a place in North America that Norse explorers, like Leif Erikson, found around the year 1000 AD. It was one of three lands they discovered along the Atlantic coast. Markland was located between two other places they named: Helluland to the north and Vinland to the south. The name "Markland" means "Forest Land" because it was covered in trees.
The Norse people never settled in Markland permanently. However, they probably made many trips from Greenland to gather wood. Greenland has very few trees, so they needed to bring timber from other places. An old Icelandic document from 1347 mentions a ship that went off course and ended up in Iceland while returning from Markland.
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Where was Markland?
Most experts believe Markland was part of the Labrador coast in Canada. Labrador is a heavily forested area, which fits the name "Forest Land." It is located north of where Vinland is thought to have been, on the island of Newfoundland. Some people think a specific spot called Cape Porcupine might have been Markland.
The climate and plants in this region might have changed a lot since the Norse sagas were written. This is because of natural climate shifts like the Medieval Warm Period and the Little Ice Age. It is hard to know the exact spot of Markland because Helluland, another Norse discovery, has been placed in different areas, from Baffin Island to various parts of the Labrador coast.
Stories from the Sagas
The main stories about Markland come from two old Norse tales called sagas: the Saga of the Greenlanders and the Saga of Erik the Red.
The Saga of the Greenlanders
This saga tells us that Leif Erikson set sail around 1002 or 1003 AD. He followed a route first described by another explorer, Bjarni Herjólfsson.
- The first land Erikson found was covered with flat rocks. He called it Helluland, which means "Land of the Flat Stones."
- Next, Erikson came to a land that was flat and full of trees, with white sandy beaches. He called this place Markland, or "Forest Land."
- Erikson's crew cut down trees in Markland and took them back to Greenland. As mentioned, Greenland had very few trees, so they needed wood for building and other uses.
The Saga of the Greenlanders also mentions a group of 160 men and women led by Thorfinn Karlsefni. Around 1010 AD, they stayed in Markland for the winter to find shelter.
The Saga of Erik the Red
This saga also describes Markland. It says that Markland is south of Helluland and north of Vinland. It also mentions other nearby places, like an island called Bjarney. The saga suggests that a country called Hvítramannaland might be across the coast from Markland.
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