Mark Johansson, age 13, of Shreveport, La., for his question:

WHO WAS ERIC THE RED?

Eric the Red lived in the late 10th century. He was the first explorer of Greenland and founder of the first European colony there. His second Son Leif Erickson, is believed to have been one of the first Europeans to reach North America.

Eric was called Eric the Red because of his red hair. He left Norway in 980 and settled in Iceland. He decided to explore land sighted by his friend Gunnbjorn Ulfsson to the west of Iceland. The course Eric followed took him to the island he named Greenland.

Returning to Iceland, Eric persuaded several shiploads of relatives and friends to join him in colonizing the new land in about 985.

An injury prevented Eric from accompanying his son Leif on the voyage that eventually took him to Vinland in about 1001.

The precise identity of Vinland remains controversial among scholars. Some say it is Newfoundland and others say it is either Nova Scotia or even New England.