L'Anse aux Meadows, New Foundland, Canada

L’Anse aux Meadows is the site of the first known Norse settlement in the Americas. Leif Eriksson’s voyage from Greenland in the late 10th century predated Columbus by nearly 500 years.

This ancient settlement offers a fascinating glimpse into the day-to-day lives of the Vikings who crossed the North Atlantic. Each dwelling was built with a wooden frame and covered in sod, helping protect it from the harsh coastal climate.

The site was rediscovered in 1960, when a local resident pointed out a series of grassy mounds that he and his neighbors had long believed were part of an ancient Indigenous camp.

It is believed the Norse remained at the settlement for roughly 10 years before burning the structures and leaving.

Today, the village of L’Anse aux Meadows is home to just 27 people — a quiet place with an extraordinary place in history.Read more